The First Sacrifice Pictured Christ

Did you ever think the Old Testament isn’t relevant for today? Other than Psalms and Proverbs, it’s easy to shy away from the Old Testament and favor the New Testament. But there’s so much richness you’re missing out on if you do that.

We are looking at 24 pictures, types and examples of Christ and salvation from the Old Testament. We feel free to do that, because Jesus did that on the road to Emmaus when he explained who he was from the first five books of the Bible and from the prophets.

Salvation by the blood of the lamb is first seen in the first couple’s children. Why did Cain and Abel have to make offerings to God in the first place? Because they were sinners. The sacrifice that was pleasing to God was the blood of the lamb, looking forward to the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 4:1-8  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  (2)  And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  (3)  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  (4)  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  (5)  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  (6)  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  (7)  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  (8)  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

(Hebrews 11:4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 9:22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Cain brought the fruit of his labor, an unacceptable sacrifice.  (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?