Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

A successful businessman and community leader responds to an altar call, accepting Christ. The leaders of the church gather around him and welcome him into the fold. They immediately start making plans in how he can be useful to the church. He response, “I don’t need a job. I need a savior.”

This is an old tale that has been circulated around churches for decades as a reminder of two very important aspects of salvation. The first is responsibility of service and the second is growth in Christ.

As I stated some time ago we all enter the kingdom as babes in Christ. The responsibility of service is required to provide a sanctuary for this babe in Christ. Babes are defenseless, vulnerable and in need of bonding to promote security and love. Babies need to be cuddled.

Deuteronomy 33:27a,b The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee;

So often church members accept that God is our refuge, but allow me to point to the position of the everlasting arms. They are underneath, below, and we the body of Christ are more than the hands and feet of Christ, we are also those everlasting arms.

I never felt so alone as those days after my altar call. Everyone left me in search of another lost sheep to dip. While they were away, the enemy came upon me. They did not provide me with any protective covering, no bonding, no sanctifying efforts whatsoever. I was vulnerable, alone and under attack.

That is no way to treat a newborn!

Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Yesterday I ended with scriptures that said the sacrifice of firstfruits would not be a burn offering. Here is a verse that is vital for understanding the necessity that Christ must be sacrificed on a tree. Because Jesus was sinless, the perfect lamb, without spot, something had to justify a curse to fall upon Him. This verse in Deuteronomy is the Word of God, a judgment that is placed on a situation and not the man’s life.

Men might find this unfair, but what God speaks cannot be undone. This verse is God’s justification of action which allows all our sins to be placed on Jesus during His crucifixion. The cross of Christ is our atoning sacrifice for sin and partaking of this sacrifice guarantees eternal life.

Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

May this be sufficient to provide a linkage between Genesis 3:22, Deuteronomy 21:23 and Matthew 27:46.

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

That is the moment our sins were placed upon Him, our atoning sacrifice.