The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world... What did John the Baptist mean?

(Joh 1:29)  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

What is the sin of the world? What did John the Baptist mean when he spoke those words? These are interesting questions, and the answers go along way in explaining what the nature of the gospel really is, and why it was such good news. You can find many posts on this blog that show that the writer of Hebrews equated sin and unbelief. In fact, the sin of the world is unbelief, and I will strive to show you why this is so.

The first clue is found in the very first chapter of the very first book of the Old Testament.
Genesis 1:27-31 explains the source of the sin of the world. God decreed that everything that He had created, including male and female was "very good." To protect humanity from not believing this decree He commanded them not to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The reason for this was that once they gained that knowledge they could decide for themselves what was good and what was evil and not believe God's decree. His decree is found in (Gen 1:31)  "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day." Yes, God declared that all creation including humanity was very good, and the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil wiped that out. They saw themselves as naked and decided that it was not good. Of course, only God knows what is truly good.

Jesus mission, was to bring the Spirit of God into the world so that humanity could believe that they were in fact good based solely upon God's declaration. Paul wrote; (Rom 5:1)  "Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." It was the faith of Jesus, being willing to die, knowing that God would raise him from the dead, that justified humanity. Isaiah prophesied this way" (Isa 53:11)  "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many: and he shall bear their iniquities." What was his knowledge? It was perfect faith in the Father. This came from the Holy Spirit that had landed on him at his baptism. He was certain, even unto death that God would raise him from the dead. The gospel provides the method and means for humanity to gain that Spirit and believe God's declaration/decree. We apprehend this faith by believing the gospel message that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting trespasses, and declaring humanity righteous.

This is precisely the way that the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, purposed to be slain before the foundation of the world, takes away the sin/unbelief of the world. The gospel is merely proof of the good news spoken by God in Genesis 1:31. The ultimate purpose Paul states in Ephesians chapter one is to the praise of God's glorious grace. It is to promote real and lasting love for God that is the only way that the first and greatest commandment can be obeyed. When we understand the gospel by faith through the Holy Spirit, we cannot help but love such a gracious and good God!