Lesson 5
The sky was still dark when the old patriarch clearly heard God speak. "Abraham, ... Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Genesis 22:1, 2.
Abraham began to tremble when he considered the staggering consequences of this command. God had promised that through Isaac he would father a mighty nation. All of Abraham's hopes and dreams were set upon this miracle son given to him and Sarah in their old age. He didn't understand why God was asking him to do this strange act, but he had learned to trust and obey his heavenly Father, even when perplexed.
So Abraham gently awakened young Isaac and two trusted servants, and the small company began the three-day trip to Moriah. As they neared the mountain of sacrifice, Abraham instructed his servants to wait for him and Isaac to return. Then he placed the wood on his son's back, and together they started up the mountain.
Sensing that something was wrong, Isaac said, "Father, we have what we need to start a fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham replied, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering."
When they reached the top, Abraham tearfully explained the reason for their mission. Willingly Isaac submitted to God's command. After the last embrace, the father tenderly bound his son and laid him upon the rock altar. Abraham raised the knife, but suddenly he was stopped by an angel and directed to sacrifice instead a wild ram that was trapped by its horns in a nearby thorn-bush.
This moving story was not the only time a father had to make a painful decision to sacrifice his beloved son.
1. Whom did the animal that was sacrificed in Isaac's place represent?
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2. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?
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NOTE: The Bible is priceless because it tells how sin entered the world and how it will be removed. God cannot tolerate the ugly malignancy of sin. The penalty for sin is death. And worse, when Adam and Eve sinned, this disease of death passed to the entire human race. God's law and the penalty for breaking it could not be changed, so all people were doomed. But God could not stand to be separated from His creatures. So, in an act of incredible love, He chose to send His Son into the world to die in your place and mine. Our sins and our death penalty were placed upon Him, and we were set free.3. What is this great plan of salvation called?
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NOTE: God's plan of salvation is called the "gospel," which means "good news." And it is indeed the most fabulous news ever delivered to people. Our death penalty was assumed by Jesus, and our guilt was removed.4. Why did God make such a fantastic sacrifice for us?
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NOTE: The strongest earthly tie is the love of a parent for a child. When God the Father was willing to allow His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die in our place, He demonstrated in the most powerful language how fervently He loves each of us.5. What must I do to benefit from Jesus' sacrificial death?
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NOTE: Jesus' offer of salvation is a gift (Romans 6:23). My part is to believe it is true and to receive the gift by faith.6. How, then, am I forgiven and cleansed?
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NOTE: Confession is the verbal side of repentance. True repentance includes a sorrow for--and turning away from--sin (Proverbs 28:13).7. What is this wonderful conversion experience called?
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NOTE: This glorious experience is referred to as a new birth because, as of that moment, we have no past. Instead, we begin a fresh new life, as does a newborn infant. It's the fantastic experience of beginning life anew without one blot of guilt on our records.8. Who enters the heart of each born-again Christian?
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NOTE: Jesus Himself actually dwells in a Christian through His Holy Spirit.9. When Jesus lives in my heart through the Holy Spirit, what will I do?
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NOTE: I will want to do His will, and He gives me the power to actually perform it.10. Why should I be confident that my new-birth experience will be successful?
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NOTE: I am confident because Jesus promises to accomplish it for me by His great power. Salvation rests upon His ability, not mine.11. Why do some people fail in their Christian experience?
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NOTE: People often fail in Christian living because they accept Jesus as Saviour but not as Lord, or "ruler," of their lives. Most of us want to have our own way and to run our own lives. When we accept Jesus as Lord, we turn over the running of our lives to Him. We keep our hands off the steering wheel of our lives and ask Him to direct us. (See supplement entitled "Once Saved, Always Saved?")12. How can I know that Jesus accepts me and that I am His child?
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NOTE: We know that Jesus receives us when we ask Him, because He cannot tell a lie. He has promised to receive us, and He does receive us--not because we feel different, but because He promised.13. How will true conversion change a life?
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14. What wonderful promises come with Christian life?
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NOTE: God gives His people the following eight precious promises:
-We can accomplish anything through Jesus.
-All our needs will be supplied.
-Nothing will be impossible for us.
-Our joy will be full.
-We will have more abundant living.
-God will never leave or forsake us.
-We need never fear what men may do to us.
-The Lord will give us His perfect peace.
Praise the Lord! How could anything be better than that?
15. Will you decide now to accept Jesus' plan to save you?
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