11. Why did Jesus have to die to rescue us from our sins? Hebrews 9:22.
NOTE: ‘Day by day the repentant sinner brought his offering to the door of the tabernacle and, placing his hand upon the victim’s head, confessed his sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the innocent sacrifice. The animal was then slain. “Without shedding of blood,” says the apostle, there is no remission of sin. “The life of the flesh is in the blood.” Leviticus 17:11. The broken law of God demanded the life of the transgressor. The blood, representing the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim [the sacrificial animal] bore, was carried by the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which was the ark containing the law that the sinner had transgressed.’ Great Controversy, page 417.
12. What do we mean when we say, Jesus died for us? Romans 5:17-18.
COMPILERS NOTE: It was by the sin of Adam and Eve that all the problems of sin came into the world. Sin soon passed from one to another when each deliberately chose to go against the way of God, as we see in the lives of the different Bible characters. This situation could only be put right by the ‘grace of God’ that bought us back from Satan, and that could help us be obedient, help that we had done nothing to deserve. We should have died, for God said that the wages of sin is death. But Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, took this punishment in our place. This is what the blood of Jesus bought for us on Calvary. It is only through Jesus that we can be forgiven. Grace is greater than all of my sin, but we have to say thank you in faith, and then step out to do the right thing with His guidance and help.
NOTE: ‘“I did all that could be done for your forefather Adam; I gave him the noblest qualities and the highest powers; My requirements were light upon him. It was because he did not believe My word, did not choose to stand the simple test I imposed upon him, but believed the word of My enemy, that he fell from his holy estate. But in his fallen condition did I not send help? I sent My Son, who was equal with Myself, that He might live as an example upon earth, and die for man’s transgressions, that you might make no mistakes or failures in obtaining eternal life.” Since such ample provisions have been made for our salvation, shall we be excusable if we put forth no effort to obtain eternal life? God has given His beloved Son to die that we might be saved. What an infinite condescension on the part of the God of heaven! By the death of Jesus Christ life and immortality are brought to light. What a hope we have!’ Signs of the Times, August 29, 1892.
LESSON INSIGHT: The ‘Man of Calvary’ was God. He, our Creator, came to dwell among us. It is His law we have broken. At the very beginning, He said that, if that law was broken, then we should surely die. The first human couple sinned but they were not destroyed that day. God covered them with the skins of innocent animals who died that day instead in their place. A promise was given them, that One would come who would take their place in reality, and die for them the death from which there is no waking up. This promise is extended to all sinners of all time. That is love! For the faithful who trust and obey God, there will be a waking up, a standing up again. This was work of the Man of Calvary, even our Creator, on our behalf. How does your heart respond to this love?