I just want to remind everyone that this is the first Sunday of an even month and we will not have a service tonight. We're not having a lunch today also. Turn with me back to Genesis 22. Genesis 22, let's begin reading in verse one again. And it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham and said unto him, Abraham, and he said, behold, here I am. And he said, take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his ass and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son and claimed the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son. And he took the fire in his hand and a knife, and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said, my father. And he said, here am I, my son. And he said, behold, the fire and the wood But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? A burnt offering was a sacrifice for sin, a sacrifice for sin. Because of man's sin, a sacrifice had to be made, a sacrifice to God. And God told Abraham, I want you to sacrifice your own son. Your only son by Sarah, your wife. Your only promised son, who you love with all of your heart. I want you to take him to the top of a mountain, and I want you to build an altar, and I want you to put wood on that altar, and I want you to slay your son, and lay him on that altar and then set that wood on fire and offer him to me as a burnt sacrifice for sin. I want you to offer your son as a sacrifice for sin, the sin of all your people. All of them have sinned. And because of their sin, you sacrifice your son to appease me." Now, why did God say that to Abraham? Why would the Lord God tell him to do that? What was God doing in saying that to Abraham? Here's the answer. He was preaching the gospel to him. That's what he was doing. He was preaching the gospel. to him. He was giving Abraham a good look at what had to take place in order for God's people to be redeemed from their sin. A sacrifice had to take place. In order for God's people to be redeemed from their sin, God the Father had to take his son His only son, his only begotten son, whom he loved. After our Lord was baptized, the scripture says, coming up out of the water, when our Lord was coming up out of the water, God the Father cried out loud, this is my beloved son, loved, beloved son, in whom I'm well pleased. In John 17 verse 24, God the Son said to God the Father, Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovest me. before the foundation of the world. You have loved me from before the foundation of the world. And he said in the verse before that, thou hast loved them, the ones he was praying for. Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me. That's amazing, isn't it? You say, how do you know? How can we know that? How can we really know that? For God so loved the world He gave his only begotten son. That's how we can know that. Greater love had no man. He didn't just give his son to his people. He gave his son for his people. He sent his son to die. He sent his own son to be the offering for sin. And in what God said to Abraham, He is going to teach Abraham something of the great sacrifice that was made by God, not just in the son dying, but by the father having to give his own son. The sacrifice that the father had to make in having to give his own son. Isaac right here is a picture of Christ. As you read through that and you realize he's a picture of Christ, the wood was laid on him. Our Lord had to carry his cross, didn't he? Just everything about this, Isaac is a picture of Christ. We will see that picture carried out before the message is over. We're going to see the gospel picture in Isaac. But I want to take a minute to really understand what makes this picture a gospel picture. I want us to take a minute to really get a hold of what the gospel component is of this picture. And we're going to see that in this question that Isaac asked. I've titled this message, The Gospel Question. This is the question that must be asked when it comes to an offering to God for man's This is the critical question of redemption. Verse 7, and Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father, and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? That right there is the gospel question. That's the question that had to be asked in Abraham's day. That's the question that has to be asked in our day. That is the question. And, and, um, put this in your pocket and take this with you. Okay. Take it with you. Wherever you go, take this with you from here on out. Take this with you. That is the question that every preacher needs to ask himself when looking over his notes before he stands up to preach. And that's the question that every hearer needs to ask himself or herself. while he or she is in the process of listening to the preacher preach. This is the question. I see the fire and I see the wood, but where is the lamb? Where is the lamb? That is the only question that needs to be asked. Sadly, in religion today, that's about the only question that's not being asked. In false religion today, that's the very thing that's missing. That is the very thing that's missing. You can see the fire. I hope I have a very brief message. I really do hope so. So really, I want to really grab your attention for one minute and then I'll try to be done. It's very common to see the fire and to see the wood. That's very common. The fire represents the wrath and the judgment of God on sin. That's what the fire represents. Turn over to Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12 verse 25, it says, see that you refuse not him that speaketh, for if they escape not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. whose voice then shook the earth, but now he hath promised, saying, yes, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. He's gonna shake the stars and the planets and everything. And this word, yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made and those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Verse 29 says, For our God is a consuming fire. Our God is a consuming fire. Look at 2 Thessalonians 1. Verse 6, seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire. taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day. Fire, vengeance, destruction. Turn over to Psalm 21. Psalm 21 verse 8 says, Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies. Thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger. The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Wrath, fire. The judgment of God on sin is a consuming fire. And you can see that fire in false religion. People talk about hell, fire, and brimstone. People talk about that. Judgment is coming. You'll hear people say that. Judgment's coming. Why? Sin. Sin, that's commonly reported. That's what that word represents that Isaac mentioned, the word wood. It represents the sin that fuels the fire. That's what the wood is. That's the sin that fuels the fire. Look at Malachi 4, last book of the Old Testament. Malachi, just before Matthew. Verse 1 says, For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven. It's coming. It's coming. It's going to burn as an oven. And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble. And the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. root nor branch, all the wood of their sin, everything that they are in their nature will be burned up. You see this fire and this wood often in religion. I just want to make that really clear. You hear men preaching on sin and judgment often in religion. But when that's all you have, it's a false religion. When that's all you have, it's a false religion. When that's all you have, you have no offering to judgment for that sin. Because there is no other offering for judgment other than Christ the Lamb. It's the only offering that there is. Now let me try to just be extremely clear in what I'm saying. I want people to understand the difference. I want to try to be really clear, okay? People talk about a man named Jesus all the time. People talk about a man named Jesus all the time, and they talk about him being a good person and being a good example and being someone who wants to save. They talk about Him being God's Son. They talk about Him being the way to God. They talk about Him being someone who loves and cares for and is there for They'll even talk about Him being the one who died to be the Savior, your personal Savior. But let me ask you this, where is the Lamb? Where is the Lamb? That's the question. Where is the lamb? You say, well, didn't we just describe the lamb, the innocent one who died? No. No, we did not. When the lamb is declared, the law is satisfied. When the lamb is declared, God is satisfied. When the Lamb is declared, justice is satisfied and judgment is satisfied. When the Lamb is declared, redemption is finished. Redemption is finished. The transaction is finished. Salvation is finished. When the Lamb is declared, there is no more atoning work to be done. God said, when I see the blood of the Lamb, I'll pass over you. As soon as I see the blood of the Lamb, I'll pass over you. He said, when I see the blood of the Lamb, the plague shall not come nigh you. You will not be destroyed the moment I see the blood of the Lamb. When I see the blood of that Lamb, everything will be settled, satisfied, finished. If we preach the fire and the wood and a law that is yet to be fulfilled. Now you're going to have to obey the law now. If we preach the fire and the wood and a God that is yet to be satisfied. Now if you don't do this, now God's not going to be satisfied. You want God to be pleased so you can go, right? Know where God is pleased? The Lamb. If we preach the fire and the wood, and a redemption that is still not yet complete, and a salvation that is not yet finished, because there's still an atoning work that must be done, we're not preaching the Lamb. Turn over to John chapter 1. John 1 verse 26. John answered them saying, I baptize with water. But there standeth one among you whom you know not. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoes latch it I'm not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Beth-Aborah beyond Jordan where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and said, Behold the Lamb of God. which taketh away the sin of the world." If Jesus Christ did not take away the sin of his people, then he's not the Lamb of God. If Jesus Christ did not take away the sin of his people that were chosen out of the world, then he's not the Lamb of God. But here's the thing about it, he did. He did. He did take away the sin of his people. He did accomplish that work. He did finish that redemption. He did. Turn with me to Hebrews 9. Hebrews 9 verse 11 says, but Christ being come and high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place. having obtained eternal redemption for us. He did not offer it. He did not open the door for the possibility of it. He obtained it. He obtained it. Hebrews 10 verse 11 says, Every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." After His one offering, after His one sacrifice for the sins of His people, He sat down, seated on the throne of His glory. Why did He sit down? You know, in the temple, in the tabernacle, there was no chair. Why was there no chair? The work was never done. They were sitting, they were sacrificing, often the same sacrifices which can never take away sin. It is astounding to me to hear of how many sacrifices they offered in the days of Solomon. There are historical reports that the priests were wading through blood. Thousands upon thousands upon thousands and thousands and thousands. They had so many priests there, just over and over and over. But this man, after he offered one sacrifice, he pulled up his chair. And why did he pull up his chair? It's because he's the Lamb. The Lamb who finished the work. He is the Lamb of God, the Holy Lamb of God who finished the work of God and satisfied the law of God, fulfilled the law and satisfied the Father in judgment and justice and everything that needed to be satisfied. Look at 1 Peter 1 with me. Verse 18 says, for as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. That's what false religion is. Tradition from our fathers. That has to go. Well, that's just how my daddy did it and how my grandmama did it. That has to go. If they did this, great. We're not redeemed with traditions from our fathers. Verse 19 says, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily, truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world. He was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, ordained to this work. but was manifest and was manifest in these last times for you. You are redeemed. You are redeemed. God's people are redeemed. How do you know? Because Jesus Christ is the Lamb. That's how we know. I'm tempted to not read this because I told you I was going to be brief. I only have like a page of notes. But I'm going to read it anyway. I'm going to be regular time because I want to read this. I really want to read this. Go to Revelation 5. Revelation 5 verse 1 says, and I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beast and the elders and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever. The Lamb on the throne. That's who we will worship and praise and thank for all of eternity, the Lamb. Where is the Lamb? He's on the throne. He's on the throne. Now, in closing, go back to Genesis 22. Verse seven, Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said, my father. And he said, here am I, my son. And he said, behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they both, so they went both of them together. I see the fire, I see the wood, but where is the gospel? Where's the good news? I see that death awaits me. Because of sin, this is all because of sin. I see the wood, I see the fire, where's the gospel? Where is the lamb for a burnt offering, a satisfactory sacrifice for sin? Verse 8, Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself. God will provide himself to be the lamb for the burnt offering. My son, we don't have to go get our own lamb. My son, that's not our work. That's God's work. God will be the one to provide the lamb. And God will provide himself to be the lamb. Verse 9, And they came to the place which God had told him of, and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Isaac is a picture of Christ in the fact that he was willingly subject. He was willingly obedient to his father. He did not resist. He did not, he wasn't a brawler. He laid down on that altar. He was an obedient sacrifice for sin. But Isaac is also a picture of us who were worthy to be sacrificed because of our sin. He's a picture of us. And verse 10 says, Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And just put yourself in the shoes of Abraham in this moment. Can you imagine? He stretched forth his hand, he took the knife to slay his son, and the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, here am I. And he said, lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. To say, where is the lamb, is to say, where is the substitute? Where is the appeasement? Where is the one who took my place? Oh, I see the wood, all right. And I see the fire. But where is the one who took my place? Where is the one who settled my debt? Where is the one who put an end to all of this? Verse 13, Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh. That means the Lord will provide. When the lamb is preached, men and women realize the Lord has provided. Verse 14, Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh as it is said to this day. In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Salvation is not seen in man. It's seen in the mount of the Lord. May we never preach a message again May we never hear a message again without asking the question, where is the lamb? Where is the lamb? That's the gospel question. Where is the lamb? Amen. You're dismissed. No, you're not dismissed. That's a habit.