"Adumbration" - 2

 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (Hebrews 10:1 KJV)

  "Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, "With the LORD'S help, I have produced a man!" Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Able also brought a gift - the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. "Why are you so angry" the LORD asked Cain. "Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."" (Genesis 4:1-7 NLT)

 Moving on, there is a whole complete picture presented in the illustration of Cain and Abel, as they were both offering sacrifices to God, but only Abel's sacrifice was accepted. Basically, it all was about the blood! If it was just based upon their actual jobs, and they offered based upon what they did, then it would have been a little more even. However, this is the whole point of that which is of works, and that which is giving the sacrifice of blood, from an innocent lamb! 

 I have been told that the Mormon Temple in Hawaii has a mural on the wall, as you would walk in, that has an alter with fruits and vegetables on it, while a lamb is laying, as if peaceful, right next to the alter. If that is true, then the picture presents that of works being the sacrifice, while the blood of the lamb being unnecessary to offer. 

 In a strange sort of way, this is the same way it works with the law, if that is, you are trying to be saved by keeping the law! Works will not save you, as the Scriptures say, "Our works are filthy rags to God." It is only by the blood of the Lamb of God that we are saved! Even still, there are those who believe that to be true, yet they still count all that they do as a portion of their salvation. We can add nothing to the price paid for our salvation! 

 Jesus paid the full price for all of our sins, not only for us that believe, but for the entire world; we just need to receive it and believe in the work that Jesus did, not the work that we have done or do. For the past few days, I have heard the same sermon on the radio from Pastor Jeff, which had to do with that parable of the Vineyard Owner.

 If you recall, the Vineyard Owner hired workers throughout the day, promising wages to those who started early, at a certain wage, yet he paid the same wage to those that started later. Each of the workers were all paid the same; those that worked 12 hours and those that only worked an hour. Yet even though those who worked all day received what they were promised, they were very angry at the Vinyard Owner, felling as though he cheated them, because he paid those who only worked an hour the same! 

 Do you see the connection with Cain and Able in that parable? There is something that is made perfect in believing in Christ, because Christ was a perfect Sacrifice to take way all of our sins! All other types of sacrifices do not make us perfect, because nothing but the blood of Christ can remove our sins! All of those who gave sacrifices at the altar, their sins were just covered, they were not removed. 

 As I was thinking about that yesterday, I was reminded about another parable which was very similar to the one about the Vinyard Owner, the one about the Unforgiving Debtor. If you didn't read my post about that, it was probably seven or eight years ago, maybe more; but my reason given for the servant that was forgiven, to then not forgive another fellow servant, was because he knew he would probably be in debt again. 

 Again, there is just certain things we need to be certain about, the main one is that the blood of Christ is sufficient enough to take away all of our sins...

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentiles. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."" (Romans 1:16-17 NLT)