By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

BELIEVERS are expected to be exemplary in life, character and behaviour. However, no one can be an example to others in character, “in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith [and] in purity” without beholding Christ, the Emancipator, who atones for our sins. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, redirected the focus of the people to Jesus, saying He is the Saviour, the final Sacrifice and “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John the beloved, the inspired writer of the gospel according to St. John also presented Jesus Christ as the Lamb who is the sacrifice; the Light who shows us the mind of God; the Life who brings us out of death into life eternal (John 14:6); the Lord of the universe; the Liberator who came to set us free from sin, condemnation, shame and sickness; our Leader and Head of the Church; the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; and the Ladder that takes us from this earth to heaven.

Apostle John wrote these things about Jesus so that we might believe in Him. Trying to live a good, righteous life without conversion is as filthy rags in the sight of God. Jesus is our pattern and has given “us an example, that [we] should follow his steps.” But before a sinner can follow His pattern of life, he/she must see Him as the Propitiator who can cleanse men from sin; and must turn away from the sinful life and follow Jesus, the Saviour. Only then will He impart His life of righteousness and faithfulness into them.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” In Genesis, the lamb that God provided for sacrifice pointed to a time in the future when Christ will be sacrificed as a Lamb, for the salvation of the world. The Lamb is a Substitute. We should have died for our sins but He died in our place, as the Bible says, “All souls are mine… the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). But Christ came and took our place and God provided the propitiation, pardon and protection so that we will not die in our sin.

Christ is also our sin-Bearer (Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 1
:18,19; Revelation 5:1-14). The blood of the lamb saved and protected the children of Israel from death in the land of Egypt. Likewise, when God sees the blood of Jesus on us, sickness, premature death, attacks, afflictions and eternal judgment will pass over us.
Our Redemption comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The Lamb is for the individual and any individual who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). The Lamb is for the family, as stated in Acts 16:31,“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The Lamb is also for the nation, as John 11:50 says,“It is expedient for us, that one man should die… that the whole nation perish not.”

The Lamb is for the world, as John 3:16 says,“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Lamb is for the universe as noted in Revelation 5:1-14. This is the reason believers should reach out to every part of the world and remind them that the Lamb has been slain.

To benefit from His sacrifice, sinners must look away from religion and self, and fix their gaze on Christ who has taken away their guilt, cleansed their heart from the pollutions of sin and set them free to live in righteousness.

• Further Reading (KJV): 1 Timothy 4:12; John 1:35,36,29;John 1:29; Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Revelation 5:1-14; Acts 8:32-35;John 1:12; 2:11; 3:18,36; 4:42; 5:24; 6:69; 7:38; 8:24,31; 14:12; 1:29; 1 John 3:5-8; John 5:14; 8:11; Romans 6:6,18,22; John 1:29; 6:60,66-69.