The Perfect Lamb of God

“Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

(Hebrews 10:8-10)

The body of the Perfect Man, Jesus, had to be prepared. He took on the sins of His people, as stated in Isaiah 53:6. However, He remained sinless, being the Perfect Lamb of God, as Hebrews 7:26 describes. His body had to endure the weight of God’s justice on behalf of the chosen sinners for whom He died, as prophesied in Isaiah 53:10. Remarkably, not a bone of His body was broken, fulfilling the law as noted in John 19:36. Real blood had to be shed [Hebrews 9:22] representing the blood of a real man standing in for sinners. Acts 20:28 describes it as God’s blood because it satisfied God the Father, ensuring justice while justifying those He chose to redeem once the work was completed.

Jesus, as a real man, had to obey every aspect of the law [Matthew 5:17] and satisfy infinite justice, which He did, John 19:30. No angel or physical lamb could achieve this, Hebrews 1:4-14; 10:4. His death marked the accomplishment of this task. He fulfilled the law entirely, both in its requirements and penalties. He took on the charge and curse of sin on behalf of God’s elect, bearing their sins in His body and as Hebrews 7:27 states, carrying them away once and for all when He offered Himself.

Though Christ was purposed as the Surety of God’s elect before the world’s foundation, Scripture indicates that He became that Surety through His death on the cross [Hebrews 7:22] dying the Just for the unjust, 1 Peter 3:18. At that moment, God the Father redeemed, justified and forgave all the sins of the elect in His one sacrifice. This fulfilled the prophecy in Daniel 9:24: “He finished transgression, ended sins, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness.”

This glorious work of redemption, justification and salvation that Jesus accomplished for His sheep is astounding. It’s a solemn reminder, as Hebrews 10:26-27 warns, that if we sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the Truth, there remains no other sacrifice for sins, only fearful anticipation of judgment.

By the revelation of God’s Spirit in them [Galatians 1:15] each of the chosen ones look, in God’s appointed time, to the Lamb alone Who completed the work for them.