THE LAMB OF GOD

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John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

In Genesis 22:8 Abraham said that God would provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering; Jesus is that lamb (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus would offer himself for the redemption of Israel (Psalm 130:8), for the transgressions Israel committed under the first testament (Hebrews 9:15).

Jesus takes away the sin of the world (1 Timothy 2:6 1 John 2:2). God always made provision for all to be saved. Abraham was justified by believing God when he was uncircumcised, before there was a nation of Israel (Romans 4:9-10). Gentile strangers to the covenants of Israel (Ephesians 2:12) could always become a proselyte (Exodus 12:48). When Peter and the disciples preached all hearers of the Word that believed, Jew and Gentile, were added to the church (Acts 6:1 Acts 13:48 Acts 2:47). In this dispensation justification is not exclusive to Gentiles, but is for the Jews as well (Romans 1:16). All have sinned and need our Saviour and redemption (Romans 3:23-24).

Jesus would take away the sins of the world, by which the Gentiles could be justified unto eternal life; the Gentiles, would however, have to go through Israel. Only to Paul was it revealed that all could be justified by faith in Christ and his shed blood by the cross, apart from Israel.

John came baptizing to manifest Jesus to Israel. God sent John to baptize with water. Paul was not sent to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:17).

John declares Jesus to be the Son of God.