The main purpose of our study is to gain a clear understanding of our purpose in Christ and what we must do to accomplish it. For this reason we are examining the steps to maturity so we can understand where we are, and what we need to do next. Because the strength of the foundation will determine the strength and magnitude of what can be built upon it, we are taking the time to lay the foundation correctly. Without question, the strength of our spiritual lives will be determined by the revelation, understanding, and application of the cross in our lives.

We have been studying the power of sacrifice, and especially the power of the sacrifice of the Son of God to deliver us from bondage, which was typified by the Passover. Now we will go on to another crucial aspect of the Passover, as we see in Exodus 12:7, 13:
 

 

     Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts

     and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

On Day Five we drew a parallel of how Israel's first Passover was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We began to examine the nature of our sin, and the perfect Lamb that was offered for our atonement. Here we want to take a little more time to examine and understand the power of sacrifice so that we can know the power of what He accomplished for us by His sacrifice.

 

Unfortunately, cults and satanic worshipers seem to understand this basic principle of the spiritual power of sacrifice better than most Christians.

Today we further our study of the Passover, which was judgment upon Egypt, but deliverance for God's people. In I Corinthians 5:7 we read "...for Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed." The Passover was a biblical model of the sacrifice of Jesus that sets us free from the bondage of this world. The first instruction the Lord gave concerning the Passover was that the Jews were to change their calendar so the month in which it took place was the first month of the year, to represent how the Passover would make a new beginning for them (see Exodus 12:1-2).

On Day Three we studied how Pharaoh is a type of Satan, the ruler of this present age, and how Egypt is a type of this present world. We also studied the resistance that Pharaoh gave to Moses when he demanded that the Lord's people be set free. This was pre-ordained by God because His people were not to be set free by the permission of Pharaoh, but by His power. Through all of the resistance, and the attempts by Pharaoh to get Moses to compromise the call of God, Moses remained resolute, declaring "not a hoof" that belonged to Israel would be left behind in Egypt.

On Day Two we saw how Paul described the wilderness journey of Israel in I Corinthians 10:1-11 as a parallel of our journey as Christians. He concluded his insights here with: "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (verse 11). The experiences of Israel leaving Egypt, crossing the wilderness, and then possessing their promised land, are a step-by-step prophetic map of our journey toward the fulfillment of our calling in Christ.

On Day One we discussed the progressive steps to maturity in Jesus Christ. If followed, these steps will lead to a mature, victorious Christian life. Our goal as stated in Ephesians 4:15 is to "...grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ." To help those of you who want to run ahead a little bit, I will lay out a few of the places where these steps are found in Scripture so that you may begin the individual study of them. The first of these is addressed by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 10:1-11:

There are progressive steps to maturity in Jesus Christ. These steps are outlined several times in Scripture, yet it seems that few Christians even know about them, much less follow the course where they lead. The failure to know these steps is probably the greatest reason for the defeat of those who fail to walk in a victorious Christian life. Our goal is to first see and understand these steps to maturity, while beginning the ascent up the mountain of the Lord, conquering ourselves and the enemies assigned to thwart us.