The Supreme Sacrifice
The Story . . .
Genesis 22:1-19
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 threeday
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 thornbush.
This moving story was not the only time a father had to
make a painful decision to sacrifice his beloved son.
The Study
Fill in the blanks after reading each Bible text.
1. Whom did the animal that was sacrificed in Isaac's
place represent?
John 1:29 The next day John seeth _______________ coming unto him,
and saith, Behold the _______________ of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world.
2.Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?
Romans 3:23 For _______________ have sinned.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is _______________.
Hebrews 9:22 Without shedding of _______________ is no remission
[forgiveness].
1 Corinthians 15:3 Christ died for _____________ _____________.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the
_______________ for the _______________.
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?
Revelation 14:6 Having the everlasting _______________ to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth.
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?
John 3:16 For God so _______________ the world, that he
_______________ his only begotten Son.
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?
Acts 16:31 _______________ on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the _______________ of _______________.
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?
Acts 3:19 _______________ ye therefore, and be converted, that your
sins may be blotted out.
1 John 1:9 If we _______________ our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to _______________ us from all
unrighteousness.
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?
John 3:7 Ye must be _______________ _______________.
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?
John 14:17 Even the _______________ of truth; ... ye know him; for
he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
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?
Philippians 2:13 Both to will and to _______________ of his
good pleasure.
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?
Philippians 1:6 He which hath _______________ a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
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?
Isaiah 53:6 We have turned every one to his _______________
_________________.
2 Peter 3:2 Be mindful of ... the commandment of us the apostles of the
_______________ and Saviour.
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?
Titus 1:2 God, that cannot lie, _______________.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it _______________ be given you.
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?
A. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have _______________ one to another.
B. 2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a
_______________ creature.
C. 1 John 3:22 We keep his commandments, and _______________
those things that are pleasing in his sight.
D. Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this _______________:
but be ye _______________ by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
_______________ of God.
E. Acts 1:8 Ye shall be _______________ unto me.
F. Ephesians 6:18 _______________ always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit.
14. What wonderful promises come with Christian life?
A. Philippians 4:13 I can do _______________
_______________ through Christ which strengtheneth me.
B. Philippians 4:19 God shall supply all your _______________.
C. Mark 10:27 With God all things are _______________.
D. John 15:11 That your _______________ might be full.
E. John 10:10 That they might have life ... more _______________.
F. Hebrews 13:5 I will _______________ _______________ thee,
nor forsake thee.
G. Hebrews 13:6 I will _______________ _______________
what man shall do unto me.
H. John 14:27 My _______________ I give unto you.
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?
Your Response
Will you decide now to accept Jesus' plan to save you, or to renew
that decision?
ANSWER: _______________
Supplement
This section provides additional information for further study
Once Saved, Always Saved?
Can a person be lost once he has accepted Christ as his Saviour?
Only in God's Word can we find an answer to this question. The Bible
speaks for itself: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works. ... For if we sin wilfully
after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins." Hebrews 10:23, 24, 26.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that our responsibility ends when we
become a Christian. God's Word is clear: "For if after they have escaped
the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they
have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto
them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The
dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to
her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22.
Christianity is more than one single decision. Jesus said that our
salvation is based on the condition that we continue to abide in Him
(John 15:4). And the apostle Paul said, "I die daily." 1 Corinthians
15:31. This means that he chose on a daily basis to deny himself and
follow Jesus. The Lord Himself said, "If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
The Bible does not teach that we can turn our backs on truth and still be
saved. Ezekiel 18:24 says: "But when the righteous turneth away from his
righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the
abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness
that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath
trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." Paul also
reminds us, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12.
Some people think they can "talk the talk" without "walking the walk."
But Jesus said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23.
Paul depicted the constant struggle of the true Christian when
he said: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth
the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the
mastery is temperate in all things. ... But I keep under my body, and bring it
into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway." 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25, 27.
To believe that once we are saved we cannot be lost is to believe that God
takes away our greatest freedom-the freedom of choice. On the other hand,
God does want us to have assurance that He will finish the work He has
begun in our lives. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:6.
We can be confident that if we continue to follow, He will continue to
lead and will never let go of the hand placed willingly in His. "He that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13.
