The Lamb of God Who Takes Away The Sin Of The World!

 CHRIST

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  (John 1:29)

1. The ‘world’ is not what it was meant to be.  It is life organised and lived out apart from God. It is life lived under the judgement of God. We see it as attractive (Gk. cosmos, from which we get our word cosmetics), as desirable, and something to be emulated.

But this is wrong. The world is everything God is not. The "world" is the life of every person - "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." "World” refers to not only its 'badness,' but also to its 'bigness.'

2. The 'world' is characterised by sin. Sin is a frightening reality because it is utterly repulsive to God. But we do not find it so. We can talk about it and pray against it, without trembling at its very mention. Sin is that which provokes the wrath of God. It is that magnet that draws the judgement of God on every sinner, all mankind. The whole world, that is, every individual, mankind, is guilty before God. Think of the world and you think of sin. It affects negatively every person that was born into the world, except our Lord Jesus Christ. It pollutes everything in your life. It is a robber and thief, a murderer, a deceiver and a destroyer. Sin does this to every sinner, and it draws down the judgement of God.

3. The world's sin can be taken away.  This verses provides us with the best news the world could ever want to hear.  The world’s sin CAN BE TAKEN AWAY!  Isn't that brilliant?  Isn't that great!  What a relief!  This spoiler can be taken away, this murderer, this robber.  It can be removed.  Its legacy can be destroyed.  My friend, the thing that keeps you under judgment can be removed.  Your SIN can be taken away, YOUR SIN.  Think of that!  The very thing that will guarantee your eternal destruction, can be taken away.  It can be lifted off.  That weight that burdens you – taken away.  The thing that depresses you, and that holds you in its vice grip, can be removed.  That is a great possibility for you.  Did you know that?  For sin to be taken away, is for it to be forgiven by God.  And this happens at the CROSS.  It is the death and passion of Christ that does it.  He took our sin in His own body on the tree, and bore it away!  That’s why our Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary.  That's why He came.  This opens the door to eternal salvation.  The sin that has messed up your life can be taken away.

4.  The Lamb of God is only one who can take away sin, v.29.  No one else can do this for us.  “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the Cross.”  He was separated from the Father because He was bearing your sin and mine.  “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me,” Ps.22:1.  He was punished and got what you should have got, He took it in your place.
 

“There was no other good enough to pay the price if sin;

He only could unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in.”   

It was a sacrificial death.  That was His purpose for coming – He was born to die – for you and for me.  It was not to teach, or to be an example, or to perform miracles that He came – He came to die in your place and mine.  He is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

5.  For this to happen to you, you must look to Lamb of God.  But the big question is, how can this become mine?  How can I experience this forgiveness?  How can, a sinner, who has a sense of his need of Christ, get this much needed relief?  There is only one way, and that is by looking to Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  “Look unto ME and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.”  There is no other way, and no other Person Who can do this for you.  Only “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Look in faith to Christ.  See in Him the only One Who can do you spiritual and eternal good.  And do you know what?  He’s waiting this very moment to be merciful to you.  His arms are wide open to receive you.  Why?  Because His heart open to receive you.  Put your trust in the only Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.  Cast yourself unreservedly on Him for forgiveness and salvation.  Give your heart to Him.  Do you know what faith does?  Calvin explains this for us.  Faith not only lets us come to Christ, but, and listen very carefully to this, faith opens up access for Christ to come to you.  It's one thing for you to come to Christ, but it's altogether another thing for Christ to come to you.  The Saviour of the world came to earth-worms like us, a fact that is utterly amazing.  

 You might ask, “How will I know if my sins have been taken away?”  That's a very good question.  Well, you can come to Christ as I have said.  But you must keep on coming until you know in your heart that He has arrived and has taken up residence in your life.  Will I feel anything, you ask?  When Christ comes to you and He takes up His abode in your heart, you will have all feelings you’ll ever want.  You will KNOW.

So my last word to you is this: do it now!

(For further information, contact me at 028 7963 4684; or at HazlettLynch@btopenworld.com).