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Calling All Contenders - Mike Muzzerall

THE SINLESS SUBSTITUTE
ONE OF THE GREATEST PICTURES of God’s grace in the Old Testament is found in the sacrificial system. God allowed the blood of sinless animals to be the substitute for the blood of sinful man. The first occurrence of this sinless substitute is found in Genesis 3:21, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Although we are not told what types of skins were provided by God, we do know one thing, the killing of an animal had to have occurred for God to provide their covering for sin.

CHRIST IN FIGURE

From his commentary on Genesis, Brother Swaggart addressed this verse: “The first thing that died was a sacrifice or Christ in figure, who is, therefore, said to be the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:18-20)”. Substitution is at the very core of the gospel story as the spotless Lamb of God graciously replaced us at Calvary.

WHAT IS SO TROUBLING ABOUT SUBSTITUTION?

There are those who reject the whole idea that somehow God was involved with sacrificing an innocent animal in Genesis in order to clothe sinful man. They also ardently reject the idea that fallen man can be redeemed by the innocent blood shed upon Calvary’s rugged Cross. However, the blood of the sinless substitute is the only way that sinful man could be redeemed.

HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?

Man goes to great lengths in their attempt to discredit the Cross. Some have taught, “Since Genesis merely states that God clothed them it is quite presumptuous to suggest that this is an example of blood atonement. After all, there’s no mention of death.” One of the Jewish Targums even suggested that the Lord made these garments for Adam and Eve from the skin which the serpent in the garden had shed. How ridiculous. I’m not sure to what extent an almost transparent discarded snakeskin could cover their nakedness, but I am certain of this one thing: Christ would not be prefigured in this story as the serpent!

THE FRAILTY OF FIG LEAVES

The best man can do is to weave fig leaves together in a futile attempt to hide the result of his rebellion against God. Man feels he can make right the wrongs he has committed. No matter how intricate you weave your fig leaves, they will dry up! They will crumble! Instead of turning to the only One who can remove the stain of sin, man foolishly labors to try to do what Christ has already accomplished.

JUSTICE VERSUS MERCY

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). The wages of sin speaks of God’s righteous justice. Sin produces death. The eternal life offered through Jesus Christ speaks of God’s love and mercy. God’s justice demands the death of the sinner, but God’s love and mercy provides a sinless substitute. Do you see how substitution was established by God to meet the righteous demands of His justice?

FULFILLMENT AT CALVARY

The blood of bulls, goats, and lambs offered on God’s brazen altar served to cover man’s sins until they could be totally paid for at Calvary. What started off as a figure of Christ in the garden finds it’s fruition at Calvary when Jesus said, “It is finished!” “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor. 5:21). Jesus is the sin-less substitute!

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