By Pastor Matthew Ritchey
We have taken the time over the last three editions of
Wisconsin Christian News to focus on the need for members of the human race to be forgiven of their sins. The animal sacrifices offered by Abel and Abraham showed the need for the shedding of blood to cover sin. The Law was a visual illustration of the ever-present problem of sin and the need of a mediator to offer a proper sacrifice before God to atone for the sins of the people. The life of an innocent, spotless lamb would be the sacrifice, so that the one offering the sacrifice could live. The trouble with the mediators, that is the priests of Israel who officiated over the sacrifices in accordance with the Law of Moses, was that the best they could offer was a temporary covering of sin, but no forgiveness. The poetical books also speak of the mercy of God who is longsuffering and merciful, while the Prophets foretold of a day when a better sacrifice would bring an everlasting forgiveness through a Redeemer who would pay for the sins of the world.
As we turn to the New Testament, we learn that the promised Redeemer had finally arrived. The Gospel of John proclaims that
“[Christ] was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world” (1:9). A few verses later, John was inspired to record,
“And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and ...
