HIS SOUL AN OFFERING FOR SIN

Elizabeth Peak

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. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:10-12)

This prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Christ emptied Himself when He died for the sins of mankind. This was Christ's whole purpose in coming to earth.

That He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)

The offering of animals without blemish could only remove sins for a year.

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14)

Christ's sacrifice was needed only once, not year after year, and lasts an eternity!

For He (God) made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden before His betrayal.

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. (John 17:4)

We must ask ourselves, "How are we to live our lives after we've become Christians?" Paul provides the answer in his words to the church of Rome:

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

The scriptures tell us to be a living sacrifice, not be conformed to the world, do good, share, give thanks and praise His name.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16)

As one songwriter penned: Jesus paid it all,

                                                    All to Him I owe

                                                              Sin had left a crimson stain,

                                                                          He washed it white as snow.