Jesus Christ, The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World

 

JESUS CHRIST, THE LAMB SLAIN FROM

THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

August 20, 2004

John said: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8

The essence of what John wrote was that JESUS CHRIST was slain from the foundation of the world, and it furnished us with the title, while at the same time it sets the stage for this weeks study.

Now the Law of Redemption had said; “without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22   That same Law said: “A testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Hebrews 9:17

That presented no problem for an all sufficient GOD.

Paul said of Him: “Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”)  Romans 4:17

And the Almighty said of His own ability: “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.” Isaiah 48:3

Yea, at His own discretions and in due time the GOD of Heaven declared CHRIST JESUS to have been slain before the world was.   In the wake of that, many were the testimonial stories of redemption left by the saints of the Old Testament, among which were Moses.   He said: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2  

And David said: “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3  

And the Psalmist said this: “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psalm 18:46  

And, it would be foolish to believe that GOD didn’t save the Gentiles during that time seeing that Paul told Titus: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”  Titus 2:11  

You know what?

Seeing that JESUS CHRIST was to fulfill the Ordinance of redemption and the Old Testament rituals, the Blessed HOLY GHOST moved the prophets to write on behalf of CHRIST JESUS of “Him slain from the foundation of the world.”  While on the other hand they were told to prophecy of things to look for after He was born of the virgin.

Isaiah wrote: “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

[3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he hath borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
[8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
[9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”
Isaiah 53:1-10   

And when David penned Psalm 22 it was as though he was present during the crucifixion with a recording instrument and recorded the struggle and agonistics cries and suffering of our LORD and we are hearing the play back.  Therefore lend an ear:

It starts with: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

[2] O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
[3] But thou art holy, O thou that inhibits the praises of Israel.
[4] Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
[5] They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
[6] But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
[7] All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying,
[8] He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
[9] But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
[10] I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.  
[11] Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
[12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
[13] They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
[14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
[15] My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought   me into the dust of death.
[16] For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
[17] I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
[18] They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
Psalm 22:1-18  

For sure, don’t miss the following:

Not once did the men of the New Testament say that JESUS CHRIST brought a better Salvation for JESUS CHRIST slain from the foundation satisfied the Law of Redemption forever.

However the Apostle did say: “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”  Hebrews 8:6  

And he said: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” Hebrews 8:1

Amen!!