Who is Israel-21
Last week we embarked on a parallel study of who is Israel, by studying being ‘in Christ’. Only those ‘in Christ’ are the true spiritual Israel. This profound reality maybe better understood by looking back to the first Passover.
Exodus 12:1 Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 12:2 "This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. 12:3 "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household. 12:4 'Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb.
We all have read this account more than once. We even have listened to teaching on it. It portrays and another Passover Lamb that will come to die for our sins.
12:5 'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 12:6 'You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.
A one year old male lamb is still considered one until its second birthday, much like we celebrate birth dates. We don’t add the next year until the day of our birth.
12:7 'Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
Blood is over all the framing of the door. You have to pass under of thru this blood to be saved from death.
12:22 "You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.
Exo 12:12 'For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD.
Exo 12:13 'The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exo 12:14 'Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.
The reality of this event has meaning today in being ‘in Christ’. We too must enter into safety and eternal life by passing thru His death and resurrection. By His blood we are saved. If we deny this offer, we will suffer eternal death in Hell.
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 26:27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
Hebrews 9:11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 9:12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Have you humble acknowledged His sacrifice for your sins? Has everyone in your family?
More next Saturday.