Dead to Sin, Alive to Him.

This week, we are actually celebrating, not one, not two, but three distinct holidays:

Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Day of First Fruits.

These three festivals speak of three stages of salvation: justification, sanctification and glorification.

Yeshua has already fulfilled all three. Now it's our turn!

As Romans 6:5 says, "If we have been united with [Messiah] like this in his death,

we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."

Another lamb was sacrificed, for the whole nation of Israel , on the 15th of Nisan.......while Yeshua died on the tree.

Pesach, the first festival of the Jewish calendar, commemorates the deliverance of Israel

by the blood of the Lamb, whose blood was spread on the doorposts of their houses.

It also commemorates the deliverance of all people who put their trust in the blood of the Lamb,

whose blood was poured on the crossbeams of a Roman execution stake.

The blood of the Paschal lamb told the angel of death that he must "pass over" these houses--

thus the sons of Israel were redeemed.

The blood of the Messiah tells the angel of death that he must "pass over" our bodies--

thus the children of God are redeemed.

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world brings justification

to those who put their trust in the atoning power of his blood.

As Romans 5:9 says, "Since we have now been justified by his blood,

how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"