What does it take to cover our sin?

First, I apologize for being AWOL for so long.  Really, I'm trying to get better about posting at least a couple of times a week.  It seems like I only have short bursts of time on the computer.  And it takes me a while to post because I am concerned about it being "right"....you know, the right words, proper punctuation and spelling, etc.  A little OCD, huh?  I'm trying to get over that!!!

So to our topic for today...what does it take to cover our sin?

I love the Bible progression about this matter.  In Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit and their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked, they tried to cover themselves...with fig leaves!  Doesn't sound to comfortable to me, but I guess they were just getting whatever was easy and quick.  Here is a picture of some fig leaves, just to give you a mental image:

God, of course, knows all that has gone on and comes looking for the couple.  Then the Lord doles out some punishment to Adam, Eve and the serpent.  And here is the part that I am finally getting to: covering our sin.  Verse 21 of Chapter 3 of Genesis says:

"The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."

This is the first covering for sin, not to mention the first animals dying.  In this case, one animal died for each person (at least that is the way I picture it....could have been one animal for the couple, I suppose).  So basically, one dies for another one.

As we move ahead in the Bible and come to Exodus 12:1-14 we see that dynamic changing.

¹ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ² “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. ³ Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb^[a] for his family, one for each household. ⁴ If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. ⁵ The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. ⁶ Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. ⁷ Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. ⁸ That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. ⁹ Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. ¹⁰ Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. ¹¹ This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.  ¹² “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. ¹³ The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
 ¹⁴ “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance. 

This section of Scripture speaks of the first Passover celebration.  And I highlighted and changed colors to draw attention to what I wanted you to see.  We have now moved from one animal per person to cover sin to one animal per household.  But still death had to come in order for sin to be covered.

Then we move over to the New Testament.  There are many references about this topic, but I have chosen Romans 3:22-26.

²² This righteousness is given through faith in^[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

I have boldfaced again, but you probably already know what I am going to say here.  Jesus (one God man) came to die once for ALL.  All who will accept Him and give their lives to Him.

There you have it, the progression that I love...

One animal per person
One animal per household (or family)
One God man for ALL!!!

In literature terms, I see foreshadowing throughout the Bible.  Hinting at what is to come.  Yet who could have guessed what God would do for humanity?  His precious Son to die for sinful man.  To take all of our sins on His body....  His love is amazing!!!

What does it take to cover our sin?  The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  That's all, but that is so much!!!  No animal could do it for us.  We needed the God man to come to this earth and live a sinless life, then He had to die for us.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving your life for us....for me.  It is definitely a gift that I do not deserve.  But the story didn't end with His death.  He was resurrected and therefore, conquered sin and death for us!!!  We praise your name, Lord Jesus!!!

Have a blessed day as you consider all that the Lord has done for you personally.

~Amy