Text: Numbers 35:1-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; 19:1-10; Joshua 20:1-9

INTRODUCTION: What the cities of refuge were to Israel, sheltering the sinner from judgment, the Lord Jesus Christ is to us.

I. THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE DIVINELY APPOINTED. (Numbers 35:1,2)

A. Christ was divinely appointed.

1. He entered the world by divine appointment. (Matthew 21:33-44; Note vs. 37, 42-44)

Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8

2. His earthly ministry was by divine appointment. (Acts 3:22,23; Deuteronomy 18:15,18)

3. He is the Saviour by divine appointment. (Acts 2:22-36; 4:18-12; 5:29-32; 10:34-48)

II. THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE FOR THE GUILTY. (Numbers 35:11,12; Joshua 20:3)

A. The Lord Jesus Christ came to save the guilty.

1. He came to a guilty world. (Romans 3:9-23) Psalms 14

2. He came to call sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:13-17) Matthew 9:10-13

3. He came to save sinners. (Luke 19:1-10; Colossians 1:14)

Luke 19 – Hungry Soul Luke 15 – The lost sheep Luke 16:19-31

Hopeless Sinner The lost coin

Hindering Crowd The lost son

Helping Saviour

III. THE WAY TO THE CITIES OF REFUGE WAS CLEARLY REVEALED. (Deuteronomy 19:3;

Joshua 20:7-9)

A. The Lord Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, is clearly revealed in the scriptures.

1. He is the Lamb of God. (John 1:29) (Genesis 40; 22:8; Exodus 12; Isaiah 53:7)

2. He is the Door. (John 10:9)

3. He is the only way to Heaven. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

IV. THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. (Numbers 35:15)

A. The Lord Jesus Christ is accessible to all men. (II Peter 3:9)

1. Christ is accessible to the murderer. (Acts 22:4,20; I Timothy 1:12)

2. Christ is accessible to the religious. (Acts 18:8; John 3:1-16)

3. Christ is accessible to the idolater. (Acts 19:18,19, 23-28)

4. Christ is accessible to the blasphemer. (Matthew12; Mk 3:30; Job 16:17)

V. THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE TO BE ENTERED WITHOUT DELAY. (Numbers 35:6, 10-12)

A. The sinner should be saved without delay.

1. Now is the accepted time of salvation. (II Corinthians 6:1,2; Isaiah 49:8)

2. There is no assurance of tomorrow. (Proverbs 27:1)

3. Death comes suddenly. (Proverbs 29:1)

VI. THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE GUILTY. (Numbers 35:12; 24-28)

A. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only refuge for sinners.

1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only refuge from the condemnation of sin. (John 3:17-19)

2. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only refuge from Hell. (Luke 16:19-31)

3. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only refuge from God’s wrath. (I Thessalonians 1:10;

John 3:36)

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