Substitute for Sin
Why is this significant? Why a
sacrifice? Why a substitution? Because GOD
is perfect, and mankind failed to remain perfect (Genesis 3). Habakkuk 1:13
states, referring to GOD,
“Your eyes are too pure to look at evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” In
essence, imperfect mankind could not and cannot be in the presence of
perfection – the Almighty GOD. The only
remedy, the only punishment for sin is death. GOD
told the first two humans the same thing – that is spiritual death. The Apostle
Paul stated when writing from a Roman prison, “For all have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of GOD.” (Romans 3:23)
Prior to the time of Jesus the
Messiah, sin was only covered by imperfect animals as all creation was affected
by sin. Leviticus is riddled with various types of sacrifice – a list too
lengthy for this article – which temporality covered various types of sin. From
the blood of cows, sheep to doves, these animals were used in this process. The
blood which the Israelites used to cover the “top and sides of the doorframe”
while in Egypt represented their saving moment of destruction, but again it was
only temporary relative to the millennia of history. Centuries prior, Abraham
was commanded by GOD to take his only son, Isaac, to Mount Moriah
and sacrifice him (Genesis 22). Fortunately, GOD stopped him and
provided a ram as a sacrifice. Since GOD cannot be in the presence of sin, sin must
perish, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6, “the wages of sin is death,” mankind’s
spiritual death. Fortunately, GOD stopped this from happening for anyone who
believes in the one who provided the ultimate sacrifice, the supreme
substitution – Jesus the Messiah.
Even before the Levitical commands of temporary sacrifice, GOD
intervened with sacrifice – with a substitution for sin (Genesis 8:20-21). He
provided for Noah. After the waters of the Great Flood receded, “… Noah built
an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals
and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the
pleasing aroma …” and made a covenant with mankind not to destroy the earth as
he had done – with water. (This water was a precursor to the baptism all
followers of Jesus the Messiah are blessed to experience.)
Before Noah, GOD covered the sin of Adam and Eve. Genesis 3
tells us, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his
wife and clothed them.” In order for the provision of the “skin” to cover Adam
and Eve’s nakedness and sin, GOD sacrificed an animal. This was the first
sacrifice, the first substitution which covered the sin of mankind. Unfortunately,
this process was temporary as it only covered the sin and did not take away the
sin. Fortunately, this process was temporary as Jesus the Messiah took
away the sins of the world once and for all, the perfect propitiation. According
to many scholars, the place where Jesus the Messiah was crucified, Golgotha, is
the same location of, or near, Mount Moriah as previously mentioned – which
indicates that Abraham’s son Isaac and the ram were inadequate sacrifices.
Jesus the Messiah, GOD’s only Son, was the last sacrifice
and is the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind’s sin, for all eternity for
those who believe in him (John 3:16).