Leaves Of Gold

A Call To Return To Biblical Teaching

“…to contend earnestly for the faith…”

Year Two Number 9 September 2007

Master Outline Number 20, “The Blood Of Jesus Christ From Genesis To Revelation

(These outlines are from “The Christian Life Bible” published by Thomas Nelson. Notes by Porter L. Barrington)

MASTER OUTLINE NUMBER TWENTY

The Blood of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation

"The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11). Just as "the life of the flesh is in the blood, so the life of Christianity is in the atoning, life-giving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am…the life" (John 14:6). He is the life of God, made living in the believer. Paul said, "Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). Christ lives in every born again believer because the believer, by faith, is a partaker of the life-giving blood of Jesus. We are children of God by the blood. Therefore, we are "blood relatives" of God through the living blood of Jesus the Son of God, who is God the Son. ' , ' .

If the atoning blood of Jesus is rejected, and the rejecter continues willfully to reject eternal life through the blood, after knowing the truth that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1 :7), for that person "there, no longer remains a sacrifice for sins"(Heb. 10:26-28). Christ atoned for our sins in His own body on the tree. Therefore, the person who rejects salvation by the blood of Jesus is guilty of a threefold sin:

(1) He has "trampled the Son of God underfoot" (Heb. 10:29; 6:6).

(2) He has "counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing" (Heb. 10:29).

(3) He has "insulted the Spirit of grace" (Heb. 10:29).

This threefold sin is committed by many church members who profess to know Christ as personal Savior, but deny salvation by the precious blood of Jesus. Jesus warned them in His Sermon on the Mount, when He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord; shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). In that day they will point to their church membership, baptism, self-righteous life, and all manner of religious works; but Jesus will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt. 7:23). Thank God He will never say this to those who, by faith, have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14).

Before you proceed with this study, read God’s warning to those who deny the validity of the atoning blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:26-31). Now examine your faith: Have you neglected or belittled the doctrine of salvation by the precious blood of Jesus? Have you committed the threefold sin against the saving blood of Christ? (Heb. 10:29). If you have, it is not too late to repent and by faith claim salvation through the shed blood of Jesus, and escape the Great White Throne of judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). God summed up His warning in Hebrews 10:31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God:'

A. The First Shedding of Blood (Genesis 3:21)-"The LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them" (v. 21). When the first man and woman sinned, God did not drive them from the garden robed in their manmade, bloodless religion. The Word says, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings" (v. 7). Adam and Eve experienced a new feeling; for the first time they felt guilt, which caused them to fear God and to hide.

God judged the man and the woman, and before He drove them from the garden He, sacrificed animals; the innocent shed their blood for the guilty. What an excellent type, or illustration, of the Lord Jesus “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24,). Peter also tells us that we have been redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot' (1, Peter 1:18,19).

Adam and Eve must have watched as God selected the animals; and so they witnessed the first shedding of innocent blood, knowing that it was because Adam had failed God (1 Cor. 15:45-49). As they watched, they learned that God in His sovereign grace provided a covering, a propitiation for their sins. Not a cover-up, but a cover---a promise of payment in full to blot out sin and to make atonement for mankind (Lev. 17:11). They departed from the garden knowing that "without shedding of blood there is no remission"-no forgiveness of sin (Heb. 9:22).

Verse 21 gives us a perfect picture of salvation by the grace of God apart from works (Eph.2:8,9). Just as the animals shed their blood in Eden, to provide a covering for the nakedness of Adam and Eve, so the blood of Jesus Christ covers the sins of the believer and robes him in the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 10:1-4).

B. Abel's Blood Offering (Genesis 43-:7) Why did God reject Cain's offering and accept Abel's? A careful examination of the two brothers and their offerings will answer this question, and will give you a fresh glimpse of "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

(1) Cain's offering was not an act of saving faith. He believed that God existed, and had come to worship Him. But he had .the wrong offering, the wrong attitude, and the wrong motive (Matt. 7:21-23). Cain did not do the will of God; he acted according to his own will. He had "a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Ti_lll. 3:5). Abel's offering, on the other hand, was an act of saving faith (Eph. 2:8, 9). "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness [from God] that he was righteous" (Heb. 11:4). By faith Abel offered a lamb for the remission of sins, and God declared him righteous. .

(2) Cain's offering was bloodless; it may have been equal in cost to Abel's, but it was without the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22). Abel's offering was a blood sacrifice; it was a type of the lamb of God who shed His blood to redeem lost souls (1 Pet. 1:18, 19).

(3) Cain's offering was a type of salvation by works (Titus 3:5). Abel’s offering was a type of salvation by grace (Eph.1:7).

(4) Cain's offering was a type of dead religion. Abel's offering was a type of life: "The life of the flesh is in the blood (the life of Christianity is in the blood of Christ), and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for' your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11).

(5) Cain's bloodless offering was rejected by God. Abel's blood offering was accepted by God, and Abel was made righteous with the righteousness of Jesus who would atone for his sins (2 Cor. 5:21).

C. The Offering of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19) This chapter is a treasure of spiritual wealth, and awesome in many ways. We can never reach its height or depth, nor exhaust its spiritual significance. Gradually we see beneath the surface, and slowly begin to discern the purpose of God. in this unique picture of Jesus Christ, our substitute. When Abraham and Isaac left the land of Moriah, after seeing God provide a ram to take the place of Isaac, they knew that "the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut. 33:27). How can anyone read of this amazing event and not stand in awe of Jehovah Jireh. "And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-WiII-Provide" (v. 14). And God did provide a ram to take the place of Isaac, because Abraham believed God and obeyed Him without asking, "Why, Lord?"

Verse 1 tells us that "God tested Abraham." God did not tempt him toward evil in the sense of luring him to fall, because "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone" (James 1 :13). Rather, He tested Abraham to show the quality of this man who was His friend. In this chapter God put Abraham's faith to the supreme test. He said to Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there· as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (v. 2). The mountain in the land of Moriah, where Abraham built the altar to sacrifice Isaac, is believed to be the plateau on which Solomon built the temple. Some believe that the Most Holy Place stood over the exact spot where Abraham built his altar. This chapter is also rich in typology; in it we have Abraham as a twofold type, Isaac as a twofold type, and the ram as a single type.

Abraham is a type of:

(1) All who are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1). Abraham lived by faith (Gal. 3:11), and his faith was "accounted ... to him for righteousness" (Gen. 15:6, cf. Gal. 3:6, 7). God tested Abraham’s faith in four great personal crises. In each crisis God called on him to surrender by faith something or someone whom he loved. If faith is to grow to greatness; it always requires sacrifice.

(a) The first crisis. God called on Abraham to leave his country and relatives and to go by faith "not knowing where he was going" (Heb. 11:8, cf. Gen. 12:1),

(b) The second crisis. God called on him to separate himself from. Lot, his brother's son, Abraham had no heir but lot. Then, "after Lot had separated from him," God promised him the land, and "your descendants as the dust of the earth" (Gen. 13:1-18).

(c) The third crisis. God called on him to abandon all plans for his firstborn son Ishmael. Abraham pleaded with God to make Ishmael his heir: "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” (Gen. 17:18, 19).

(d) The fourth crisis. In his greatest crisis of faith, Abraham was commanded by God to offer up Issac, his God-appointed heir, as a burnt offering (Heb. 11:17-19). Abraham's faith stood the test, and God gave him the victory. Anyone who lives by faith will be tested many times, because it is only through discipline that Christian character is developed.

(2) God the Father (John 3:16). Abraham was told, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love ... and offer him there 'as a burnt offering" (v. 2). This type was fulfilled when God the Father gave His only Son to become our sin offering. "For He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

(3) Isaac is a type of:

(a) The Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, who came into the world to do the will of His Father. Just as Isaac obeyed his father, and was willing to become a burnt offering, so the Lord Jesus obeyed His Father, and "humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8)

(b) The whole human race, which is born in sin (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:23-25). Isaac needed a substitute to take his place on the altar of sacrifice, and God provided a ram. The ram is a type of Christ, who became our substitute. This type was fulfilled in Christ almost two thousand years later, when He freed us from sin's penalty and power (Rom. 8:1-3).

D. The Passover Blood (Exodus 12:1-36)- The twelfth chapter of Exodus is one of the great chapters of the Bible. It displays deliverance from slavery for Israel, but judgment for Pharaoh and all Egypt. The Lord said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt" (Ex. 11:1). The "one more plague" was death for the firstborn, wherever there was no Passover blood on the doorpost and the lintel.

(1) The Passover lamb is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, who redeems, not with sliver or gold, but with His own life-giving blood (1 Pet. 1:18,19,). Paul reminds the Corinthian church that Christ is our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7). \

(a) The Passover lamb "shall be without blemish, a male of the first year" (v. 5). The Passover lamb is a type of Jesus, "who knew no sin." He was without blemish (2 Cor, 5:21), and even challenged His enemies to find sin in Him: "Which of you convicts Me of sin?" (John 8:46).

(b) The Passover lamb was to be separate from the sheep or goats, from the tenth to the fourteenth day. This separation period was a time of examination; to make certain that the Passover lamb was without blemish. The Passover lamb is a type of Jesus, “Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens"(Heb. 7:25-28).

(c) The Passover lamb was to' be killed: "And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel, [the cross beam] and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin" (v. 22). The blood of the Passover lamb is a type of the blood of Jesus, who hung upon the cross and shed His precious blood for the remission of' our sins (John 19:28-37). The blood on the crossbeam and on the two doorposts is a picture of the bloodstained cross., '

(2) God said to Israel, "The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you" (v. 13). Now God did not say, when I See your good works, or your moral character, or your self-righteousness, or your religion, or the laws you keep, I will pass over you. No! He said, 'When I see the blood, I will pass, over you" (v. 13). Remember, without the blood of Jesus there, is no

forgiveness of sin (Heb. 9:22)

E. The Day of Atonement in the Old Testament (Leviticus 16:1-34)- This chapter is rich in typology, with as the fulfillment of each type. He is our atonement for all our sins. The biblical meaning of the word is to cover, to expiate, and to pay the penalty for sins. To reconcile, or to achieve "at-one-ment" with God is a part of the atoning death of Christ. To atone is to bring the sinner from a state of enmity with God to a place of union or oneness in Him (2 Cor. 5:18).

The Day of Atonement was to be repeated on the tenth day of the seventh month, year after year. It was a day of rest; the Israelites were to do no work. It was a day of repentance: God said, "You shall afflict your (v. 29). On the Day of Atonement the high priest entered the Most Holy Place and sprinkled the blood upon the mercy seat, to atone for all the sins of the congregation, including those sins committed unintentionally or in ignorance (Lev. 4:1-35).

Compare the high priest with the lord Jesus Christ:

(1) He is a type of Christ in his office as mediator. He was the "go-between"; he alone stood between and man. Once each year he was to go alone before God with atoning blood, while the congregation waited to be reconciled to God (vv. 16, 34). Christ fulfilled this office of the high priest as recorded in ys: "He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death (Heb. 9:12-15). "For 'one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5)

(2) His priestly garments are a type of the lord Jesus Christ. God told Moses to "make holy garments for our brother for glory and for beauty." The garments were to be made of "gold, blue, purple and thread, and fine linen" (Ex. 28:1-5). Christ fulfilled the type of the holy garments. When the Messenger Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus, he said, "That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1 :35). The writer of Hebrews said, He "is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26). The gold thread speaks of His deity, the blue thread of His character, the purple thread of His royalty, the scarlet thread of His shed blood, and the fine linen of His righteousness.

" (3) The high priest offered the blood of a bull to make atonement for his own sins (v. 6). In this he is not a type of Christ; the Lord Jesus Christ did not, have to make atonement for His own sins, He is the sinless One (Heb. 7:27, 28). The Scriptures say that He "committed no sin, l (1 Peter 2:24), that "in Him there is no sin" (1 John 3:5), and that He “knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21).

, (4) Two goats were presented before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle. Aaron was to cast lots for them: one would be sacrificed and the other would be the "scapegoat" (vv. 7, 8). '

(a) The atoning blood of the sacrificial goat, which was, sprinkled on the mercy seat to cover of the people (vv.7-9), is a type, of Christ our High Priest, who "entered the Most Holy Place once having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:11-14).

(b) The scapegoat is also a type of Christ. Aaron, after atoning for the sins of the people with the blood of the sacrificed goat, was to take the live goat and lay his hands on its head confessing iniquities and sins of Israel. Then he was to send it into the wilderness (vv. 21, 22), so that those sins might be lost and out of sight forever. Christ bore our sin in His own body on the cross, was placed. in the tomb and rose on the third day. Christ alone will wear the scars of His sacrifice in His holy body. In His resurrection He fulfills the type of the living scapegoat (Matt. 28:1-7)~

( 5) On the Day of Atonement the robes of glory and beauty were laid aside and after the high priest washed his body, he put on plain linen garments---plain yet "holy” (v, 4). On this day the priest humbled himself and became a servant. This is a type of Christ in His humiliation (Phil,2:5-8; cf 2 Cor. 8:9)

F: The Day of Atonement in the New Testament. John 20:17

· Mary Magdalene was the first person to the risen Lord on that first Resurrection Sunday. God chose her for this honor-to show bow great was the power of His atonement. At one time she had been lost, fallen, and even demon-possessed (Luke 8:2). Through her tears she saw a man near the tomb, and thinking He was the gardener, said, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus answered, Mary" (John 20:15, 16).

Recognizing the risen Christ, she, cried, "Rabboni"-"Teacher!"-and reached out to touch Him. But us said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “…I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My, God and your God'" {vv. 16, 17). As the first person to see Jesus alive after His resurrection, Mary was privileged to see Him before He entered the Most Holy Place in heaven as our High Priest. With the shedding of His blood He made

Atonement for our sins, obtaining eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12). Simon Peter said, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:18,19). The

sacrifice of God's Lamb was:

(1) Volitional. Jesus Christ willingly chose to be God's sacrificial Lamb to take away the sins of the world, John 1 :29). None of the Old Testament sacrifices could bring eternal redemption. The high priest had to repeat the sacrifice and enter the Most Holy Place once every year to atone for the sins of the people, Lev. 16:12-16). All the animal sacrifices were imperfect types of Jesus Christ, our perfect blood sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14).

(2) Motivated by love. The love of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) for us is manifested in the vicarious death of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). '

(3) An act of rational obedience (Phil. 2:5-8). In God's eternal economy He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). Therefore, He knew beforehand every agonizing moment that He would endure on the cross, arid the ignominious shame He would experience, (Heb. 12:2). '

(4) The end of all animal sacrifices. "For if we [Hebrew believers in Christ] sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth [that Christ died for our sins, was, buried and rose from the dead], there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins"'(Heb. 10:26-29). "For Christ is the end of the [ceremonial] law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom. 10:4).

It was necessary for Christ, our High Priest, to enter the Most Holy Place in heaven after His resurrection and sprinkle His own blood upon the mercy seat to make atonement for the sins of Old and New Testament believers (Heb. 9:11, 12).

G: Without the Shedding of Blood, Hebrews 9:22.

"Without shedding of blood there is no remission" (v. 22). This is one of God's imperatives. Without the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus there is no remission of past, present, or future sins. Without His blood there is no remission of sins of action or neglect, nor is there remission of sins committed in ignorance, nor is there remission for the sin of doing the right thing in the wrong way. Unless the sinner is cleansed from sin by the blood of God the Son, there is no remission at all. Without shedding of blood there is:

(1) No justification; To be justified is to be declared judicially righteous because you have been washed and made white in the blood of the lamb (Rom. 3:24-26; cf. Rev. 1:5).

(2) No redemption. To redeem is to buy back. God's only begotten Son shed. His blood to redeem (buy back) sinful man. (Eph. 1:7)

(3) No forgiveness. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1 :14).

(4) No cleansing. The blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from sin day after day (1 John 1:7).

(5) No atonement. To cover, cancel, the covering of man’s sin through the shedding of blood. "For it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11).

(6) No sanctification. To sanctify means to set apart for God's use. The blood of Jesus sets every cleansed believer apart for salvation and service (Heb.13:12).

(7) No victory. The saints (all true believers) will overcome Satan, sin, and all the powers of darkness by the, blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb (Rev. 12;11). No wonder Peter calls it "the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18, 19). (These studies will continue each month).

Law and Grace, from the book “Rightly Dividing The Truth” by Clarence Larkin, chapter XVII

The Scriptures make a clear distinction between "Law" and "Grace," putting "Law" in one Dispensation and "Grace" in another. "The 'Law' was given by (through) Moses, but 'Grace' and 'Truth' came by (through) Jesus Christ." John 1: 17. By the "Law" we are to understand the "MOSAIC LAW," the "Law" given to Moses by God 6n Mount Sinai. It was threefold.

1. THE MORAL LAW. Ex. 20: 1-17.

(The Ten Commandments.)

2.THE CIVIL LAW. Ex. 21: 1-24: 18.

3.THE CEREMONIAL LAW. Ex. 25: 1-40: 38. We are not to understand that there was no "Law" before Moses, or no "Grace" before Jesus Christ, for "sin" is the "transgression of the law," (1 John 3: 4), and Adam's sin was the transgression of the law that God laid down as to the eating of the fruit of the Garden, and "Grace" was revealed and exercised when Adam and Eve were spared the penalty of their sin. In Rom. 2: 12 the Apostle Paul speaks of those who were "without law" from Eden until Moses. He does not mean that they were not accountable for their conduct, for by their actions they showed that there was an "unwritten law" in their hearts that their conscience bore witness to. Rom. 2: 14-15. What Paul meant was that there was no "Written Law," that is, no "MOSAIC LAW," before the days of Moses. Let it be understood then in this discussion that by "Law" is meant the "Mosaic Law," and that there can be no mixing or blending of "Law" and "Grace" in this or any other Dispensation.

1. THE LAW

1. THE "LAW" WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE GENTILES;

"When the Gentiles, WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having NOT THE LAW, are a law unto themselves." Rom. 2: 14.

The "Law" was given to Israel exclusively. For illustration take the "Law of the Sabbath." It was not given to the Gentiles. It was given as the "SIGN" of the "Mosaic Covenant." Ex. 31: 13. Ezquiel 20:12, 19-21. The "Sabbath Day" belongs to the Jews alone and is not binding on the Gentiles (the World), or on the Church (Christians), though Christians are expected to observe the "First Day of the Week" for rest and worship. Nowhere in the Bible do we find God finding fault with any nation or people, except the Jews, for not observing the Sabbath. As a Jewish ordinance it has never been abrogated, changed, or transferred to any other day of the week, or to any other people. It is now in abeyance as foretold in Hosea 2: 11, 3:4-5, it would be. It is to be resumed when the Jews are nationally restored to their own land. Isa. 66: 23. Ez. 44: 24, 46: 1-3.

2. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW.

The "Law" was not given to JUSTIFY men, for by the "deeds of the Law" shall no flesh be justified in God's sight. Rom. 3: 20. Gal. 2: 16. The "Law" was given that men might know what sin is, "for by the 'Law' is the knowledge of sin," (Rom. 3: 20), for men would have not known that "covetousness" was sin, if the "Law" had not said-"Thou shall not COVET." Rom. 7: 7. The "Law" was given to "stop men's mouths," and keep men from boasting of their own righteousness, and see themselves guilty before God. Rom. 3: 19. The "Law" was given to be a "Schoolmaster" to lead men to Christ. Gal. 3: 24-25. All the rites and ceremonies of the "Ceremonial Law" pointed to Christ, such as the Feasts and Offerings. Now that Christ has come neither Jew nor Gentile is under the "Mosaic Law," for He fulfilled the "Law," that is, all the rites and ceremonies of the "Law" found their fulfillment in Him. Christ then "is the 'END OF THE LAW' for Righteousness to everyone that BELIEVETH." Rom. 10: 4. Therefore Believers are "DEAD TO THE LAW," (Rom. 7: 4. Gal. 2: 19), that is, they are no longer under the bondage of "Legalism," but under GRACE.

II. GRACE

"By Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT OF GOD; not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2: 8-9.

From this scripture we see that "Grace" is a GIFT. If a man receive salvation in exchange for his works, then salvation is but another word for "wages." Or if Salvation is given in exchange for benefits bestowed, then it is simply a "reward." Now if a man receives Salvation as wages, or as a reward, then Salvation is not a GIFT but something that he was entitled to, and therefore is not of GRACE. Grace is not something given us to help us keep the Law, Grace is UNDESERVED MERCY.

The "Source" of Grace is GOD'S LOVE. "For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3: 16.

The "Channel" of Grace is CHRIST. "Grace and Truth came BY JESUS CHRIST." John 1: 17. Titus 2: 11. The "Instrument" of Grace is FAITH. "By Grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH." Eph. 2: 8. Not faith in a thing, as some good deed we have done, but faith in a PERSON, and that person JESUS CHRIST.

That we may the better see the difference between "Law" and "Grace" let us contrast them.

1. "BLOOD" AND "WINE."

The first miracle that Moses performed as the representative of the "Law" was to turn water into BLOOD, typical of DEATH. Ex. 7: 19-21. The first miracle that Jesus performed as the representative of "Grace" was to turn water into WINE, typical of LIFE. John 2: 7-11.

2. "DARKNESS" AND "LIGHT."

All the "Law" can do is to produce DARKNESS, as when Moses caused a "thick darkness" to cover the land of Egypt. Ex. 10: 22-23. But "Grace" gives LIGHT. Jesus said-"I am the LIGHT of the World." John 9:5. Jesus came to give not only sight to the physically blind but to the spiritually blind as well.

3. "DEATH" AND "LIFE."

The last scene in Egypt was DEATH. The death of the first-born. Ex. 12: 29-30. The "End of the Law" is DEATH. Rom. 6: 23. One of the last miracles of Christ was to give LIFE, the resurrection of Lazarus. John 11: 41-44. Jesus came to bring LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light, through the "Gospel of Grace." The first time the "Law" was proclaimed 3000 were KILLED. Ex. 32: 26-28. The first time that "Grace" was preached 3000 were SAVED. Acts 2: 41. .

4. "STRIPPED" AND "CLOTHED."

We are by nature like the man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan robbed and stripped and left by the way side to die. Luke 10: 30-37. The "Law," like the "Priest" and the "Levite," passes by and gives no help, while "Grace" comes where we are, and like the "Good Samaritan" pours in oil and wine, and puts us in his place on his beast, and provides for our future. .

5. "SEEK" AND "SAVE."

The "Law" says-"SEEK the Lord while He may be found " "Grace" says: “The Son of Man is como to seek and to save that which was lost”, Luke 19: 10. What a vista the Parable of the "Lost Sheep" opens up. It was not so much the sheep that was lost, as that a man had LOST A SHEEP. When Adam sinned and wandered away, God said-"Adam, if you can do without me, I cannot do without you." Then it was that "Grace" began its work.

6. "DO AND LIVE," AND "LIVE AND DO." The "Law" says-"DO and thou shalt Live." Lev. 18: 5. "Grace" says-"IT IS FINISHED." No man is justified by his works, but as a Believer he will be rewarded for his works. We are not to work to the Cross, but from the Cross.

7. "SERVANTS" AND "SONS."

The "Law" said to Moses at the "Burning Bush" "Put OFF thy shoes." Ex. 3: 3-5. Why? .Thou art a SERVANT. Heb. 3: 5. "Grace" said to the "Prodigal" when he returned home~"Put ON thy shoes”, Luke 15:22. Why? Because he was a SON, Luke 15: 24.

THE LAW SAYS: GRACE SAYS:

"'Keep Off." "Embrace Him!'

"Bow the Knee:'" "Kiss Him:'

"'Punish." ·"Forgive."

'''Strip him." "Best Robe."

"'Kill him" "Makes Alive”

“Under the "Law" the SHEEP" died for the "Shepherd. Under "Grace" the "SHEPHERD" died for the 'Sheep" John 10: 14-15.

THE LAW demands holiness.

GRACE gives holiness.

O! THE LAW says-Cursed is everyone that continueth

THE LAW SAYS: “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them”, Galatians 3:10.

GRACE says-Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sin is covered; blessed the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity”, Romans 4:7, 8.

LAW says-“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”, Deuteronomy 6: 5 .

GRACE says “Herein is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins”, 1 John 4:10.

THE LAW speaks of priestly sacrifices offered year by year continually which \could never make the comers

thereunto perfect, Hebrews 10:1., .

GRACE says, “But this Man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever . . . by one offering hath perfected forever them that are sanctified”, Hebrews 10:12-14.

THE LAW declares, “That as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law”, Romans 2:12.

GRACE declares, “That there is no condemnation (Judgment for Sin) for those who are in Christ Jesus for they HAVE PASSED from Death unto Life”, John 5:24 .

THE PURPOSE OF GRACE

The "Purpose" of God's Grace is revealed in Eph. 2: 7, as being:-"That in the 'Ages to Come' He might show the EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE." In the British Museum there are gathered from every nation and land under the sun specimens of all kinds of animal, vegetable, and mineral life. No expense has been spared to make the collection complete. So God is gathering from every tribe, people, and nation specimens of His "Grace," so that in the "Ages to Come" He may exhibit these trophies of "Grace" as samples of what the Gospel can do, and the sweet thought of it is, that there are no duplicates. You may think that you are too bad, too vile, too cranky, too odd and peculiar to be saved, but that is why God wants you, for there will only be SPECIMEN SINNERS up there, and God wants to show the Universe that the Gospel is the "POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH." Rom. 1:16. (These lessons will continue)

LAW and GRACE

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These “Leaves of Gold” are published by James A. Nelson, editor, jan@twinvalley.net This page is sponsored by David Pickett, dr_pickett.hotmail.com and our Webmaster is Pastor Martin Gutzmer mrgutzmer@gmail.com

Your comments are welcomes. Missionary-Evangelist Nelson and his wife Janet spent twenty-two years serving the Lord in the Island of Puerto Rico and the Republic of Mexico. They now live in the village of Westfall, west of Salina, Kansas They are members of the Village Bible Church, Salina, Kansas whose pastor is Robert F. Manning manningadvanture@yahoo.com