04.14. SHADOW: The Covering of Skin- Thank God for th
SHADOW: The Covering of Skin- Thank God for the Blood
What is the greatest thing that we have to thank God for? Some may say it is our life, but life would be hopeless without Christ. Some might say our families but the future would be uncertain without Christ in our families. Some may have this or that that they think is the greatest thing for which to thank God. But I submit to you for your consideration that the greatest thing that we need to thank God for is salvation. Once we are there then we need to begin to see the sacrifice that it cost and what it is that ultimately secured our salvation. I submit that I am thankful most today for the blood that was shed on Calvary. Thank God for the blood.
"In the New Testament there are 290 references to the love of God, 290 times when God had declared His love for man. But in the same chapters and the same verses there are more than 1,300 references to the atonement, 1300 assurances that salvation can be had through the blood of Christ". —G. Franklin Allee ~ Atonement Verses In Bible
Along with individuals, such as Adam, Joseph, there are also many types in the Bible that are in the form of sacrifices. We will look at many of these in times to come. We begin with our first one today. While these first two types we have looked at have been chronologically in nature we will not continue to do so in the future.
Today’s shadow is found in the context of the story of the fall of man. God began at the very beginning of history to reveal the mystery of Christ and the need of a blood sacrifice to men by the shadows.
I- The Story: Genesis 3:6-14
In order for us to understand the full impact of this we need to begin with the story of the fall.
A- the Fall: Genesis 3:6-7 " And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."
Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the only tree forbidden for them. The thing they did after eating is of special significance in order to understand the shadow. They made an attempt with their hands to cover their sin. They sewed leaves together as a covering.
B- The Question and Answer: Genesis 3:8-13 "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."
God came to have fellowship with Adam and Eve. He already knew they had fallen before this. He finds them hiding. The perfect communion was broken. Sin still separates us from God. The scars are still visible to the relationship.
C- The Curse: Genesis 3:14-19 "And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
As a result of the fall the curse passed upon the earth. Sins scars can really be seen here.
II- The Promise: Genesis 3:15
Tucked within these last verses concerning the curse I wish us to see a glimmer of hope. The first promise of the Messiah that would come is found here. Notice Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
God promised to send one who would undo the disaster of sin.
III- The Shadow: Genesis 3:21
The first shadow demonstrated to us after the fall is found in Genesis 3:21 "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." God begins to teach humanity what will be required to restore the relationship of men and God. God, by His own hand, kills animals and makes a covering for their nakedness. This shadow needs to be seen in light of Calvary. This is the first record of a blood sacrifice for sin.
IV- The Picture of the Shadow:
Let us notice several things that the shadow of the skins show or teach us.
A- Shows Christ Doing What Works Could Not:
Adam and Eve quickly recognized that something was wrong and tried to cover it up. Men today have devised a lot of different methods to replace the leaves of Adam and Eve. He had devised religions that take all accountability out to a higher being. Many deny that God even exists. Men are doing in different ways what Adam and Eve did.
Every one must have personal faith and belief in the blood for himself. It is said that during the war, George H. Stuart, a princely merchant of Philadelphia, and a Christian man of large heart and faith, was President of the Christian Commission. One day he had occasion to go down into Virginia, and cross the picket lines, to visit a soldier. He came along, and the sentinel was pacing up and down. Mr. Stuart rode up to the lines. "Halt!" Mr. Stuart stopped. "Who is there?" "A friend." "Advance and give the countersign." Mr. Stuart rode up, and leaning forward, whispered, "Chicago." "No," said the sentinel, "that is not the right word today; and it will be death for me to let you go over without the right word, and death for me to give it to you. You must go back to headquarters and get it."
Stuart went back to the headquarters, and having obtained the correct word, hastened back. As he approached the lines the sentinel shouted, "Halt!" Stuart stopped. "Who is there?" " A friend." "Advance and give the countersign." He rode forward and said, "Massachusetts." "That is right." Mr. Stuart rode over the lines, stopped, whirled upon his horse, and said, "Sentinel, I came here today to cross these lines, and I had the wrong countersign; but I had opportunity to go back and get the right one. But, sir, you are approaching lines of eternal consequences, and if you come with the wrong countersign, you never will have opportunity to go back and get the right one."
"Yes, sir, I know what you mean." "What do I mean?" "The judgment seat of Christ." "That is right." "Sir, have you got the right countersign?" "I have." "What is it?" "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin?" "Where did you get that?," said he. "In a prayer meeting where you were."
B- Shows That Blood Sacrifice Was Necessary:
God, please remember, is teaching men the things necessary for redemption from sin. He did not come along later when Moses was given the law and insert the fact that a blood sacrifice was necessary. He begins with the blood sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." This is the way it has always been. Why we might ask? Notice Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
C- Shows That Life Comes From Death: The sacrifice of these animals in a small way began the process of redemption and restoration of man to God. Their death began to bring life to man. Christ death was the ultimate picture that brings life. Matthew 20:28 " Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Thank God for the blood, thank God for the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, thank God for redemption through the blood. And they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11 )
"This is the last reference in the Bible to the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; here it is the overcoming blood, enabling believers to withstand the deceptions and accusations of Satan. There are at least 43 references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament, all testifying to its great importance in the salvation and daily life of the believer.
Judas the betrayer spoke of it as "innocent blood (Matthew 27:4 ) and Peter called it "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:9). It is the cleansing blood in 1 John 1:7 and the washing blood in Revelation 1:5, stressing that it removes the guilt of our sins. Paul calls it the purchasing blood in Acts 20:28 and the redeeming blood twice (Ephesians 1:7); Colossians 1:14, see also 1 Peter 1:18-19, Revelation 5:9 ), thus declaring the shedding of His blood to be the very price of our salvation. Therefore, it is also the justifying blood (Romans 5:9 ) and the peacemaking blood (Colossians 1:20 ). Its efficacy does not end with our salvation, however, for it is also the sanctifying blood (Hebrews 13:12 ). There is infinite and eternal power in the blood of Christ, for it is "the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 13:20 ). The first reference in the New Testament to His blood stresses this aspect. Jesus said, at the last supper: "This is my blood of the new testament (same as ’covenant’) which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28 ). Let no one, therefore, even count the "blood of the covenant. . an unholy thing" (Hebrews 10:29 ), for the blood of Christ is forever innocent, infinitely precious, perfectly justifying, always cleansing and fully sanctifying." Revelation 12:11 (Source unknown)