Unconvinced: Exploring Faith As A SkepticSample

Maybe you’ve heard Jesus described as “the Lamb of God.” It’s one of those churchy phrases that doesn’t make much sense to most of us. But the story behind this particular phrase will help us understand why Jesus had to die and what that has to do with you.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with God’s rules, the Israelites discovered that God had included a provision for sin. When an Israelite broke one of the rules, he was required to sacrifice an animal. This atoned for—or made up for—the sin committed. It was a bloody and powerful reminder of the cost of sin and the need for forgiveness.

This Jewish tradition is what John the Baptist alluded to when—while baptizing in the Jordan River one day—he saw Jesus and declared, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John was telling his audience: Look! God has provided a lamb who will be the ultimate, final sacrifice for our sins. Through his voluntary death, Jesus would be the sacrifice that atoned for the sins of every man and woman, once and for all—no more animals required. 

It’s a claim Jesus himself repeated the night before he was arrested and killed. While eating dinner with his followers, Jesus said the bread and wine represented his body and blood, which would be sacrificed on their behalf. He described it as a “new covenant,” meaning there would soon be a new way of finding forgiveness. This is great news for you.

Most of us carry memories that will never elicit anything but shame and regret. There are chapters of our lives we’d like to go back and do over. There are bad decisions that weren’t just mistakes. They were sins. 

Through Christ, God has canceled your debt. The sin you’ve tried to make up for, pay for, and find redemption for has already been made up for, paid for, and redeemed. It happened two thousand years ago when the Lamb of God took away the sin of the world—including yours.

God did what you could not do. Jesus took your shame and regret and carried it away. When you place your faith in Christ, you no longer owe God for the rules you’ve broken. That kind of personal forgiveness for your personal sins may be the very best starting point for your personal faith.