1. "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?"
(Romans 8:15 MSG)
2. "But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death. " (Hebrews 9:14 CEV)
What His blood achieved was only half the story. To gain the ultimate benefit we require the appropriate response.
1. "Those who first heard the Good News did not receive that rest, because they did not believe. There are, then, others who are allowed to receive it. This is shown by the fact that God sets another day, which is called "Today." Many years later he spoke of it through David in the scripture already quoted: "If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn." If Joshua had given the people the rest that God had promised, God would not have spoken later about another day. As it is, however, there still remains for God's people a rest like God's resting on the seventh day. For those who receive that rest which God promised will rest from their own work, just as God rested from his. Let us, then, do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith. The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart." (Hebrews 4:6-12 GNB)
If we are to rest in what Christ's blood had acheived and enjoy it's benefit. We need to simply believe it and receive it.
1. It is true that some of them did not believe the message. But does this mean that God cannot be trusted, just because they did not have faith? No, indeed! God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar. The Scriptures say about God, "Your words will be proven true, and in court you will win your case."
(Romans 3:3-4 CEV)
We rob ourselves of a wonderful freedom in His presence, approaching Him with a full assurance of faith, knowing that our actions no longer separate us from God, but rather our unbelief does. We need to approach God with full confidence not in ourselves but having faith in the finality of the work of His blood in ridding us not only from sin, but any conscience of it.
1. "...because their action is not based on faith. And anything that is not based on faith is sin." (Romans 14:23 GNB)
When the Passover Lamb was offered under the old covenant. The priest would examine the Lamb for perfection and not the person whose sins it carried. Christ is the perfect lamb of God who took our place to pay for our sins and of Him God said "I am well pleased". Let us come into God's presence knowing the lamb took it all and our Father is well pleased.
1. "If you bring a sheep as a sin offering, it must be a female without any defects. You shall put your hand on its head and kill it on the north side of the altar, where the animals for the burnt offerings are killed. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood of the animal, put it on the projections at the corners of the altar, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat is removed from the sheep killed for the fellowship offerings, and he shall burn it on the altar along with the food offerings given to the LORD. In this way the priest shall offer the sacrifice for your sin, and you will be forgiven." (Leviticus 4:32-35 GNB)
2. "The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 GNB)
3. "Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, the one I love, and with whom I am pleased. I will send my Spirit upon him, and he will announce my judgment to the nations." (Matthew 12:18 GNB)
4. "So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help." (Hebrews 4:16 CEV)
Under the blood, under the blood
They say "put in under the blood"
Put that sin under the blood
How wide its cover?
How permanent it's stay?
How often the need?
To put it under the blood?
What is under the blood?
You or the sins you commit?
When you are under it
Can the sins stick?
Forever the blood is to last
Who wore it thin?
Do you receive?
Those accusations?
Under the blood
Under the blood, under the blood
You are truly under the blood
No sin can taint
None can impute sin to him
Who is under the blood?
Under the blood you are
Under the blood you stay
Covers all that pertains to you
Live free of a conscience of sin
Forever, under the blood
In part 8, we will look at the role of Christ’s blood in the new covenant.
Selah
(To be continued..)
click here to read part 8
To view others instalments in the series, click here
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