The near-sacrifice of Isaac establishes that God does not want us to sacrifice ourselves on the altar, but rather to identify with the appointed sacrifice of the lamb given on our behalf. Isaac pictures the identification process. First he completely submitted himself to Gods will by being bound as a sacrifice. Once that decision was made, God intervened by providing the ram caught in the thicket, which represented the binding or identification of Gods sacrifice for him. Just as the lamb was identified with Isaac, so Isaac was identified with the lamb. Likewise, Yeshua died in your place so you can identify with his death for you, trusting it as your atonement provided by your Heavenly Father. Your union with Yeshua means that his death was your death: For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God (Col. 3:3). Likewise, his life after death (resurrection) is your eternal life: When Messiah who is your life appears, you also will appear with him in glory (Col. 3:4). Baptism symbolizes your identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua as the Lamb of God sacrificed on your behalf (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4). Just as Isaac descended from the altar in newness of life, so we are made new creations because of the sacrifice of Messiah: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20).
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 03:37:19 +0000
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