The Blessedness And The Eternal Blessings Of Believing The Lamb Of God

John the Baptist points our attention to the Lamb of God. He wants us to look away from every other personality, the past and the present, and “Behold the Lamb of God”. There is no doubt as to the identity of the One who is the Lamb of God. The Old Testament had already prophesied about Him. This is no other but the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God “which taketh away the sin of the world”. There are no two lambs of God. The only Lamb is unique and universal, as revealed by the Scriptures.

1. THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROVIDED LAMB OF GOD ONYANKOPƆN ADWAMMAA A WƆASIESIE NO NO Revelation 13:8; 17:14

Jesus Christ was not an afterthought. It had been foreordained from “the foundation of the world” that He would be the Lamb that would bear the sins of humanity.

• The Sacrificial Lamb: Our Substitute (Afɔrebɔ Adwammaa no: Yɛn Nanmusifoɔ) Genesis 22:7,8; Romans 5:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:9

Abraham responded prophetically that “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” when Isaac demanded for one. He knew that God would not take away his son from him because through Isaac all the families of the earth would receive the blessings of salvation – reconciliation with God and redemption. The Lord would provide Himself the Lamb of God by giving us His only begotten Son. This was fulfilled when “Christ died for us” while we were yet sinners and should have died for our sins. More so, we are “justified by his blood”. As our Substitute, He bears the wrath we both inherited and brought upon ourselves as a result of our sin; this makes us free.

• The Spotless Lamb: Our Sacrifice (Adwammaa a ɔnni nkekaeɛ: Yɛn Afɔreb) Exodus 12:3-5; 1 Peter 1:18,19; 1 Corinthians 5:7,8

The children of Israel, when they were to come out of Egypt and journey into the Promised Land, were told to use a “lamb… without blemish” for their sacrifices to be acceptable unto the Lord. That lamb represented Christ who is our Passover. Through His “precious blood… as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”, He takes away our sins. Only such a sacrifice could be accepted in the sight of God. The essence of His sacrifice is to “Purge out” the old lifestyle of sin from us. Therefore, it will be self-deception if anyone claims to have partaken of the benefit of Christ’s sacrifice but still manifest traits of sinfulness.

• The Smitten Lamb: Our Saviour (Adwammaa a wɔapira noɔ no: Yɛn Agyenkwa) Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 Peter 2:23,24

Christ took away our pain, sorrow and the consequence of sin that would have condemned us for all eternity. The smiting and eternal judgment that should have come upon us were laid on Him. Although He did no sin, “he was wounded for our transgressions, …bruised for our iniquities: [and] the chastisement of our peace was upon him”. Consequently, we can now have fellowship with God. However, the salvation Christ purchased for us as a result of that smiting is not to make us still active in sinning and yielding to temptations but that we should be “dead to sins [and] live unto righteousness”.

2. THE FULLNESS OF THE PERFECT LAMB OF GOD ONYANKOPƆN ADWAMMAA A ƆWIE PƐYƐ NO MMAYƐ John 1:16,17

Christ lived a sinless life. He was perfect in thought, word and deed. He obeyed the Father’s will and accomplished everything ordained for Him. Ultimately, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice as payment for our salvation. Through this sacrifice, He bestows upon us the fullness of grace, godliness and every spiritual blessing necessary for our journey to glory.

• The Saving Lamb: Our Sufficiency (Adwammaa a Ɔgye Nkwa No: Yɛn Kyɛso) John 1:29; 1 John 3:4-10; Hebrews 7:25,26

Christ, the saving Lamb, is our Sufficiency. He has accomplished the efficacious sacrifice that sets us free from sin. Sinners must recognise that sin can damn and destroy the soul, and come to the Lord in sincerity, confess and forsake their sins. Afterwards, they must ask Him for the grace and strength to resist sin and remain steadfast. Religious persons who still struggle with common, secret or besetting sin should avail themselves of Christ’s atoning work at Calvary because He has completed everything for our salvation and is “…able to save [us] to the uttermost”.

• The Sanctifying Lamb: Our Sanctifier (Adwammaa a Ɔte ho no: Yɛn Akomamuteɛ) Ephesians 5:25-27; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 13:12-14

Besides shedding His blood to forgive and save us from external sins, Christ sacrificed Himself to purify our hearts, spirits and nature from inner depravity and sin. Driven by love for the Church, Christ “gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word [and] present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”. If we believe in Christ’s sacrifice for our sanctification and hope to get to heaven, we will avail ourselves for the work of sanctification to be done in us.

• The Supernatural Lamb: Our Shepherd (Adwammaa Sonowonko no: Yɛn Hwɛfoɔ) Revelation 5:4-7,13; Hebrews 13:20,21

Christ is the supernatural Lamb who only is worthy to accomplish what no human or angel could. He has complete supernatural power, sight, insight, knowledge and the fullness of the Spirit of God. He is also our Shepherd who has provided the means for us to be pardoned, purified and made perfect. Those who are imperfect should utilise the provisions of our great Shepherd who empowers us to be “perfect in every good work to do his will, working in [us] that which is wellpleasing in his sight”.

3. THE FINALITY BY THE PREEMINENT LAMB OF GOD

DEƐ ƐTWA TOƆ A ƐFIRI ONYANKOPƆN ADWAMMAA A ƆDI AKOTEN NO Colossians 1:17-20

Christ, the preeminent Lamb of God, possesses supreme, sustaining power over all things – visible and invisible. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” As Creator and Sustainer, He gives existence and continuity to all. He has “the preeminence” in all things in heaven, on earth, relating to our salvation, sanctification and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

• The Sovereign Lamb: the Supreme (Adwammaa a Ɔdi hene no: Deɛ Ɔyɛ Kɛseɛ no) Revelation 17:14; 1:5,6; 19:16

As the sovereign Lamb, Christ is supreme. He is “Lord of lords, and King of kings”. Those who belong to Him are called out of sin, chosen for reconciliation and righteousness, and they are faithful. Being associated with the sovereign Lamb, these saints are faithful in the public and in private, in their profession and ministry. And because Christ is supreme,

He “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to [whom] be glory and dominion for ever and ever”.

• The Submissive Lamb: His Servant (Adwammaa a Ɔbrɛ Ne Ho Ase No: N’akoa) Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 52:13

Christ demonstrated humility through submission despite being supreme. He willingly “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”, relinquishing divine privileges. He “endured the cross, despising the shame”. As believers, we are called to emulate Christ’s humility and not pursue after reputation, self- esteem or promotion by the world. Also, we should not be lords over God’s heritage like those who oppress and trample on their subordinates as it obtains in the world.

• The Sinless Lamb in Supremacy (Adwammaa a bɔne nni Ne Ho a Ɔdi Akoten no) Hebrews 7:25,26; Revelation 11:15; Psalm 2:1-12

  

Christ, the sinless Lamb, occupies a royal, exalted position. As our supreme high Priest, He “is able to save to the uttermost”, purge and prepare those who “come unto God by him” for their heavenly home. Although “the kings of the earth” may rage, hate and rebel, still, God has “set [Christ as] king” and sovereign over them. Those who are highly placed, popular or preeminent in this world should “Be wise… [and] be instructed” to surrender their lives to Christ now because that is the only way to escape the wrath to come. Similarly, those who are called to “Serve the LORD” must do so “with [reverential] fear, and rejoicing with trembling”. Believers in general are admonished to love and trust the Son of God more than anything in this world, as this attracts blessings.

Congregational Songs

GHS: STS 11, MESSAGE 239 & 240