Christ Our Passover
Before God sent His last plague (the death of the first born) upon Egypt, He directed that each family was to slay a lamb “without blemish,” and sprinkle its blood on “the two side posts and on the upper doorpost” of the house, that the destroying angel, coming at midnight, might not enter that dwelling (Exodus 11:7; 12:29).
The Israelites were to eat the lamb roasted, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, at night, as Moses instructed (Exodus 12:11). The Lord declared: “I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment…. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12,13).
In commemoration of this great deliverance, a feast was to be kept yearly by the Israelites in all future generations (Exodus 12:14). As they should keep the feast, they were to repeat to their children the story of this great deliverance (verse 27). The first-born of both man and beast were to be the Lord’s, to be purchased back only by a ransom, in acknowledgment that when the first-born in Egypt was slain, that of Israel, was saved due to the atoning sacrifice (Numbers 3:13).
The sacrificial lamb represents “the Lamb of God.” Paul wrote, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). It was not enough that the paschal lamb be slain; its blood must be sprinkled upon the doorposts; so the merits of Christ’s blood must be applied to the soul. All who accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ are by their profession of faith in Him be pure, “even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 2:6).
The believers must have faith, not only that Christ died for the world, but that He died for each one individually. It is not enough even that they believe in Christ for the forgiveness of sin; they must by daily faith receive strength through His word to overcome sin (John 6:53, 54). He explained, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (Verse 63). Jesus lived His Father’s law. In Like manner, the believers must share His experience.
The Leaven of Sin Put Away
As no leaven was to be found in the Israelites’ houses during the feast, in like manner, the leaven of sin must be put away from the Christians’ lives. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump…. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8).
And as by obedience the Israelites were to give evidence of their faith. So, by the merits of the blood of Christ, believers should realize that they have a role to play in securing their salvation. While it is Christ only that can redeem all from the penalty of sin, believers are to offer obedience through His enabling power. Man is to be saved by faith, not by works; yet his faith must be shown by his works (James 2:18). God has given His Son to die as atonement for sin; and now man must submit to God; he must believe and obey all His commands.
At the end of time, the destroying angel will have a fearful mission, and only those who have put away the leaven of sin, and have lived according to the principles of holiness, will be saved (Ezekiel 9:1–6; Revelation 7:1–3; 14:1–5). The church of God must be a pure church (Ephesians 5:27). It must be completely free from all corruption (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27). And it must be covered by the blood of Jesus- the antitypical Passover Lamb.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
