496                      A. M. E. REVIEW.

preached repentance showing the people their sins and next pointed
them to the Lamb of God who beareth away the sins of the world.  His
order of preaching is a homiletical hint to the pulpit in all ages.  Show
the people their sins and point them to Christ the friend of sinners,
This was familiar language to the Jew, who since the days of Moses,
had offered lambs upon their altars.  Morning and evening, daily, a
lamb was offered, prefiguring the continual efficacy of the blood of the
Atonement that was to be made by Christ, the Lamb of God.  Ex.
29:38-39.  John's announcement of Christ as the Lamb of God was
broad in meaning.  It was an antiphonal strain to the song, of the
evangelical prophet who sings "He is brought as a lamb to slaughter
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb.  Is. 53:7.  The lamb slain
from the fonudation of the world.  Rev. 12:8.
   Isaiah and the two Johns speak in a common language of the Lamb
of God, the atonement in Christ  John the evangelist, however gives
us another glimpse of the Lamb of God when his loving patience shall
cease with sinful man. He tells of his wrath. How awful is the wrath
of the Lamb!  Mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of Him
that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Rev. 6:
16-17.  The wrath of the Lamb, a theme we hear but little of, but it is
a subject over which sinful, unbelieving man needs to ponder.  Of how
much sorer punishment suppose ye shall be thought worthy, who has
both trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood
of covenant wherewith he has sanctified an unworthy thing and hath
done despite unto the Spirit of grace. Vengeance belongeth unto me
and I will repay saith the Lord. It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.  Heb. 10:29-31.  It is the Lamb  that heareth
away sin. Jno. 1:29. It is he who shall pour out his fiery wrath upon
the sinner and the ungodly.  Rev. 6:16-17.
  (3) As a forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist bare record of Him.--
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came
for a witness to bear witness of the Light that all men through him
might believe. John was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of
that Light. The name John had some significance, meaning Lord of grace,
or whom the Lord graciously gave. The heralder by his very name bare
witness of him who was full of grace and truth, and of whose fulness have
all received grace for grace. Jno. 1:10, 16-17. By this testimony John
bare record of Christ And this is the record of John, when the Jews
sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou?
  And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not that
prophet; but am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight
the way of the Lord, as said the prophet. He was a witness of that Light
that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, the Light of the world,
the world's Star, the Sun of Righteousness But for His shining the world




			

OHS/National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center Serial Collection

African Methodist Episcopal Church Review, Vol. 28, Num. 1

Volume:  28
Issue Number:  01
Date:  07/1911