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Title: “A Christ For A House” Subject: Christ, Our Passover Intro: The Bible says, "...For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7) Two short weeks ago we celebrated the most defining event in the history of the world--Jesus Christ's death burial and resurrection! The miracle of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection is the cornerstone of Biblical Christianity--for the resurrection 1) proves that Jesus Christ was who He said He was; 2) it proves that He has power over death; 3) it proves that God's wrath was satisfied by Christ's sacrifice for your sins; 4) and it proves that all men--every man, woman, and child--will be resurrected from the dead, the remnant to everlasting life, and the rest to everlasting torment in Hell and the Lake of Fire. The Bible says, "...For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" I believe Hell and the Lake of Fire are places untouched by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I believe those in Hell are those who were never touched nor moved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And I believe that there are some in this congregation, that though you are still alive, you are living untouched and unmoved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. You are either content in your good works, content in your good thoughts, content in your good religion, or simply content to live apart from the presence of God. And if you continue as you are, when the bloodhound of sin finally tracks you down (and he will!), and the pitbull of God's wrath puts the deathgrip on your throat (and he will!), and the angel of death delivers you to the very gates of Hell (and he will!), you too will join the multitudes of unredeemed sinners who sought to live apart from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in this life! And then, you will live apart from God, in torment, for eternity. And the only Person who stands between you and eternal damnation is Jesus Christ! The Bible says, "...For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" The word "Passover" means to "pass over or to skip/leave out." In the O.T. book of Exodus we find the Egyptians refusing to release the Jews from slavery that they might worship God. So God sent 10 plagues, the last being the death of the firstborn of every family. The Jews were not exempt, but God protected every family that took the blood of a sacrificial lamb, and applied it to the door posts and lintel. The blood was provided by the sacrificial lamb. The peoples' faith in God's warning, and the people's obedience to God's word was revealed by the application of that blood to the door posts. And when God saw the blood about the door, the death angel passed over, and the firstborn child was spared. That sacrificial lamb of Exodus was a type and picture of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The like application of the blood of Christ to the doorpost and lentil of your life comes about when the Holy Spirit convicts you of the gravity of your present situation before God. Then when you exercise repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ the blood is applied, your sins are removed as far as the east is from the west, and when God sees that blood, He will pass over you. Ex. 12:1-14 -- "A Christ For A House" -- prayer Note: In our passage, God has provided the Jews a method of protection from the death angel. If you will believe God's warning, and be obedient to His word, you too will be protected from an eternity in Hell. What do you need? First, you need the truth! I. THE LORD'S WORDS (v1-2) A. The Source ("The Lord spake"). There is no other source for spiritual truth! You will either believe the fables of men concerning spiritual truth, or you will believe God as revealed in the Bible! B. The Setting (Egypt). God Gave His Message in the Land of Egypt to a people that were slaves. (v1). 1. Egypt is a picture of the world. And like the Jews, you are slaves to the government of Satan, and to your own sins! C. The Second Chance (v2). God gave them the opportunity for a new beginning To the lost, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" 2 Cor. 5:17 To the Christian, "...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 Jn. 1:7 Note: So without Christ, you have a slave problem and a sin problem, though God has given you a second chance! Second, you need a lamb! II. GOD'S PROVISION OF A LAMB (v3-6) A. A Lamb (The lamb has been provided in Jesus Christ) "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" John 1:29 1. Set apart on the 10th day for the Passover on the 14th day. (v3,6) a. Jesus Christ was set apart "...before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" 1 Peter 1:20 b. Jesus Entered Jerusalem 4 days before the Passover. 2. A lamb for every house (v3) Every house needs a lamb! "And when the jailer had brought the disciples into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house" Acts 16:34 3. A lamb for every person (v4, "every man according to his eating") "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" 1 John 2:2 4. A perfect lamb (v5a) ("without blemish" = no defects) "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Peter 1:19 5. A male lamb (v5b) Jesus, though God was fully man 6. A lamb in its prime (first year) (v5b) Jesus was in His prime, mentally and physically, 30. Note: So without Christ, you not only have a slave problem, a sin problem, and a lamb problem, but God has given you a second chance! Third, you need a sacrifice! III. GOD'S PROVISION OF A SACRIFICE (v6) A. The Sacrifice of the Lamb 1. The lamb was kept from harm or injury until the sacrifice (v6a) "Therefore they sought again to take Jesus: but He escaped out of their hand" John 10:39. Moved out of harm's way by the power of God 2. The lamb was killed. In Ex. one lamb was killed for one house, but at Calvary, one lamb was killed for the sins of the whole world. In Ex. the lamb was killed, but Jesus was not killed, but freely laid down His life "No man taketh it [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" John 10:18 3. The lamb was killed about the 9th hour (3 P.M.) ("evening") "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,...My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46 4. An innocent lamb (v6) An innocent lamb died for the guilty. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" 1 Peter 3:18 Note: So without Christ, you not only have a slave problem, a sin problem, a lamb problem, and a sacrifice problem, but God has given you a second chance!! Fourth, you need a satisfaction! IV. THE LORD PROVIDED A SATISFACTION (v7) A. The Blood 1. Only the blood of your lamb would do (personal acceptance) "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" Hebrews 9:22 2. Only the application of the blood would do (personal application) a. A personal faith, but a public identification. b. For covering, the blood must be applied! "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" Ephes. 1:7 Note: So without Christ, you not only have a slave problem, a sin problem, a lamb problem, a sacrifice problem, and a blood problem, but God has given you a second chance!! Fifth, you need salvation! V. THE LORD PROVIDED SALVATION (v8-11) A. Partake of the Lamb (v8-10) 1. Eat the flesh (Jn. 6:53-55). "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" John 6:53 a. Take Christ as your own, not as an external religion, but as an internal relationship with the living God. 2. Eaten immediately (v8, "in that night") Take Christ immediately. "(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" 2 Cor. 6:2 3. Eaten entirely (v9-10) Get all God has for you in Christ, give all you've got for Christ. B. Partake of the Work (v11) 1. Loins girded (ready to work), Shoes on (ready to go), Staff in hand (ready to serve), Eaten in haste (ready to forsake) Note: So without Christ, you not only have a slave problem, a sin problem, a lamb problem, a sacrifice problem, a blood problem, and a salvation problem, but God has given you a second chance!! Sixth, you need to escape judgment! VI. THE LORD PROMISED JUDGMENT WILL COME (v12) A. I will. When God says, "I will," He will!! 1. Pass through the land (read Revelation) 2. Smite the firstborn "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" Hebrews 9:27 3. Execute judgment against men and their gods Read Rev. 21:11-15, where all those not found written in the Book of Life are cast like a javelin into the eternal lake of fire! B. The "I Am" (ever present, self-existent Jehovah) What God says He will do, He is more than capable of doing! Your good works won't stop Him, your religion won't stop Him, your excuses won't stop Him! Note: So without Christ, you not only have a slave problem, a sin problem, a lamb problem, a sacrifice problem, a blood problem, a salvation problem, and a judgment problem, but God has given you a second chance!! Seventh, you need protection! VII. THE LORD PROMISED PROTECTION (v13) A. The Token ("distinguishing mark") is the applied blood "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" Romans 5:9 1. A token where you are ("When I see the blood") 2. A secure place to stay ("I will pass over you") 3. A plague averted. It will not destroy you when God smites world Note: So without Christ, you not only have a slave problem, a sin problem, a lamb problem, a sacrifice problem, a blood problem, a salvation problem, a judgment problem, and a protection problem, but God has given you a second chance!! Eighth, you need a reminder! VIII. THE LORD DESIGNATES A MEMORIAL (v14) A. A Memorial ("reminder") Day for You (the day of your salvation, the day of your surrender) B. A Feast ("festival" of gratitude) to the Lord "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved..." 2 Cor. 2:14-16 C. An Example to Coming Generations D. An Ordinance For Ever (a spiritual law that abides) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13 Concl: The Jews were protected from the death angel by applying the blood of an innocent lamb. What is protecting you from the wrath of God? The death angel, even now, lurks within and without. And your time of departure will not be hindered by time, space, pleas, or circumstances. Only the blood of Christ offers eternal protection, but it must be applied. Will you come to Christ today? Christians: Have you availed yourselves of the continuously cleansing blood of Jesus Christ? Are heeding God's Word, and keeping close to your Saviour? Or have you lost your first love, your fervent faith, and your willingness to serve? |