CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

1 CORINTHIANS 5:7

A. ORIGIN OF THE PASSOVER
  1. Dates back to Israel's departure from Egypt: Ex. 12:11, 27; Lev. 23:4; Num. 28:16
  2. The word "passover" comes from the Hebrew word "pasach" which signifies to pass, to leap, or to skip over:
    1. A memorial of coming out of Egyptian bondage - Ex. 15:16
    2. The angel of God which slew the firstborn sons in Egypt bypassed the firstborn sons in Israel. Their habitation had been marked with blood - Ex. 12:1-15
  3. The paschal lamb:
    1. Israel was directed to select a male lamb and kill it on the 14th day, one for each home or family.
    2. Put the blood of this lamb on the door post for a sign of their security against the avenging angel which passed through Egypt - Ex. 12:1-15
    3. This was the story of redemption in shadows - Heb. 10:1-6; Col. 2:16, 17
B. CHRIST OUR PASSOVER
  1. Christ, the Lamb of God, symbolized by the paschal lamb -- John 1:29 - is our Passover:
    1. John points to Him when he says, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" - John 1:29; Rev. 5:6
    2. In Him and His sacrifice type was met and fulfilled - Col. 2:16, 17; Heb. 9:8-11; 10:1-6
    3. When He cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30) the curtain, separating the Holy from the Most Holy, was rent in twain; from that moment all sacrifices ceased - Matt. 27:51; Luke 23:45
  2. The passover reveals God's provision to save us from the judgment to come:
    1. No condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus - Rom. 8:1-7
    2. A secure shelter - John 6:53, 56; Rom. 8:31-33; 2 Cor. 5:18-21
C. EFFECT OF THE PASSOVER IN OUR LIVES IS CONDITIONAL
  1. We must leave Egypt - confess and forsake our sins:
    1. Jesus came to save us, not in sin, but from sin - Matt. 1:21; Rom. 3:31; Gal. 2:17
    2. Continuance in sin is the misuse of the grace of God - Rom. 6:1-3; 2 Cor. 6:1-3
  2. We must abide in Christ, just as much as the Israelites had to remain in their dwelling when evening came: John 10:16; 15:1-6; Acts 2:46, 47
  3. We must be members of his mystical body, the church: John 10:15, 16
  4. We must partake of the unleavened bread: John 6:53-58
  5. The precious blood of Jesus Christ is the only shelter against the avenging angel. Let us keep this truth in mind when we think of the day of God's vengeance: Ps. 32:1-3; Rom. 4:7; Mi. 7:18, 19; Rom. 8:1, 31-33
  6. Communion:
    1. Our Lord established a memorial of His infinite sacrifice for us so we shall ever keep in mind the price paid for our salvation.
    2. The Lord's Supper is that Memorial -
      1. "Do this in remembrance of me" - Matt. 26:26- 29
      2. "For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death til he come" - 1 Cor. 11:23-26
  7. While no specified time is set by our Lord when this service is to take place, Paul does give specific directions how it should be celebrated:
    1. Worthily - 1 Cor. 10:15, 16; 11:27
    2. With prayerful self-examination. Communion should ever be open; each communicant must examine himself, and so eat.


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