In the Old Testament times, sins were symbolically transferred to an animal, which was sacrificed and died in the sinner's place to pay for their sins. We can see the very first sacrifice in Genesis when God made clothes from animal skins for Adam and Eve (Gen 3:21) to "cover their sin".
God graciously forgave them because of their faith. They obeyed his commandments concerning sacrifice. Those sacrifices were the precursor to the greatest of all sacrifices - the cleansing of sin which resulted from the death of Jesus. He did not die for his sins (as he was sinless) - he died for each of us.
Committing our life to Christ causes his death to become our death. We will die a mortal death, but we will live on in his Kingdom for all eternity, "for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ." (Rom 6:23). The sacrificial lamb, his death for our sins and the promise of heaven once again are within our grasp!
Only by the blood of Christ are we able to lay claim to our inheritance! Only by the acceptance of Jesus' death and resurrection can we enter! Only by the grace of God will we not be cast down!
