THE ACCEPTABLE OFFERING

Gen. 3:21

Morning Meditation 11/18/2012

"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

This is the first mention of sacrifice in the Bible. Adam's fig leaves had failed and now God comes and slays an animal, takes the skins, and clothes Adam. His sin is not only covered but atoned for, in the first mention of sacrifice. Now we find in this first mention of an atoning sacrifice three things:

1. Salvation must be a gift from God. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

2. Salvation must come by the shedding of blood. 1 Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

3. Salvation must come through the death of a substitute. Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 1 Thessalonians 5:10, "Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

All three of these things are found in this passage. God made the coats of skins Himself, rather than the work of Adam's hands. In order to get these skins an innocent animal must die and its blood be shed. Now by the law of first mention, every subsequent sacrifice, to be acceptable to God, must meet the three requirements.

1. It must be God's gift.

2. It must be by blood.

3. It must be by the death of a substitute.

Omit one or more and God must reject the offering. We have an example in Genesis 4 where Cain brought a sacrifice that God refused. God rejected it because it was the fruit of Cain's own labor. No man can be saved by his own works.

Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

Nothing to settle? -- all has been paid;

Nothing of anger? -- peace has been made.

Jesus alone is the sinner's resource,

Peace He has made by the blood of His Cross. -- Anon.

If a man is not straight on the Blood of Christ, he won't be straight on anything else. First, because to be saved one has to be straight on the blood. If he is not saved, he has no insight into the true meaning of Scripture. Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

There is no salvation apart from the sacrifice of Christ. He offered the one offering God accepts. It is not the offering of Christ mixed with ones own good works. It is Christ alone that makes reconciliation. And in reconciling us He obtains eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

God be praise for His marvelous grace that comes as a gift to an undeserving sinner so that He get all the glory for our salvation.

May the Lord bless these word to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White