Feb 2 (Daily reading: Exodus 10-12) The tenth and final plague on Pharaoh and Egypt was death. The ultimate result of sin and rebellion against God is death: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23a). Yet from this same event came the introduction of the Passover Lamb: “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). John the baptizer said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29) Yes, sin brings death, but Paul added, “…but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23b).
This is a biblical paradox that Christians discover in their walk of faith. For Christ to give us abundant life, He had to “lay down His life” (Jn. 10:10-11). Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). Also, “Whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk. 8:35). “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).
“When He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door” (Ex. 12:23). On that fateful night in Egypt, God affirmed a future event, when the blood of the Passover Lamb would be shed. The one who, in faith, applies Christ’s shed blood to his/her heart for the forgiveness of his/her sins, “has crossed over from death to life” (Jn. 5:24).
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). In Christ, “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).
-Al Gary
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