Tag: blood of Christ
The Light of Truth
Scripture reading for November 22nd: Ezra 3-6, Psalm 92, 1st John 1
1st John 1: 5-10 “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”
John, in his old age, wrote this letter to the church to encourage them in the truth and to warn them against the lies of false teachers who were seeking to deceive the believers. God is light, and His Word is a light to our path and a lamp for our feet. Believers must walk in the Light of God’s Word and cling to Jesus Christ for cleansing and salvation. The false teachers were telling people that there was not really anything like ‘sin’ and that God would save everyone. John stated that those who say they have no sin, deceive themselves and ignore the Truth of God’s Word. Confession of sin and repentance alone brings cleansing and it is a continual process to walk it out. The blood of Christ, our ‘Passover Lamb’ is sufficient!
Ezra 6:20-22 “. . .So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by everyone who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful. . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Light of Life in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Thank You for the apostles, like John, who knew You and spoke plainly to the Church concerning basic truths of sin, repentance, cleansing by Christ’s blood, and the deceptions of false teachers. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me today to walk in the Light of God’s Word and speak truth that brings repentance and faith.
Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; To declare Your steadfast love in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”
Brought near by the blood of Christ!
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Exodus 10-12, Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2:11-16 “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands–remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, Who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Life in this world is bound up by spiritual conflict and hostility between two spiritual forces. The forces of darkness under Satan are out to kill, steal, and destroy the forces of God and those who walk by faith in Him. Paul told the Ephesians, that we were all once living in the darkness of sin and were without God and without hope. But through God’s mercy, He sent Jesus Christ to shed His blood on the cross and make payment for sins, sparing us from the death and judgment on those in darkness under Satan. Christ’s blood reconciles us to God and to other believers–Jew and Gentile, and breaks down the walls of hostility because we are now all made one in Christ Jesus. As the blood of a lamb protected the Israelites, it also brought them closer to God and His presence led them out of the hostility in Egypt.
Exodus 12:12-13 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Prayer: Father God, I am thankful for the peace I have in Jesus Christ. I am aware of the spiritual conflict in the world between the forces of Satan and those blinded by him and Your people. I cling by faith to the blood shed by Christ Jesus on my behalf to reconcile me to God and unite me with all believers, Jew and Gentile, in one body–the Church. Have mercy on those caught in hostility of this spiritual conflict.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
A holy prophetic proclamation!
Scripture reading for September 8th: 1st Corinthians 11
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 11:23-27 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.”
Paul had been instructing the Corinthians on eating the meat of sacrifices to idols in the pagan culture of the land. Now he turns to the holy sacrament of the Lord’s supper. Paul got this instruction from the Lord, Himself, and delivered it to these believers to help them and correct their attitudes and division that was occurring in this church family. The sacrament of the Lord’s supper was a partaking of the symbols of the sacrifice of Jesus’ body and blood on the cross of Calvary. They were to do it in remembrance of the Lord and His final and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of mankind. They were to do it after examining their own lives and asking forgiveness and grace for any offenses against Christ’s body–the Church. They were to do it prophetically–proclaiming Christ’s death and His resurrection and promised return!
1st Corinthians 11:28-30 “Let a person examine himself, then and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for the gift of Your Son as my final and complete sacrifice for my sins as well as of those of the whole world. Help me to examine myself each time I partake to properly discern the body, Your Church, so that I am not bringing judgment on me or any others. I want to give a holy proclamation of Your death and soon return to all in the holiness You have provided by grace through faith.
1st Corinthians 11:31-32 “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.”
Thankful for Christ’s covering!
Scripture reading for January 30th: Leviticus 2-5
Key Scriptures: Leviticus 5:5-6 “When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned and as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.”
When a person committed an unintentional sin under the Old Covenant, they must confess their sin and bring a sin offering. This was an animal, without blemish, to sacrifice to cover the sin. The priest confessed the sin over the animal and killed it, taking the blood and sprinkling it before the Lord. In this way sin was covered over.
Thanksgiving: We are so thankful that in Christ Jesus, we have the perfect blood already sprinkled on Heaven’s Mercy Seat. He is our High Priest as well! “How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14)
Thankful for a clean conscience!
Scripture reading for November 9th: Hebrews 9:11-28
The priests under the old covenant were doing daily sacrifices of animals in the earthly tabernacle for the sins of men. Under the old covenant, the sacrifice of animal blood could cover the sins of men but could not really cleanse them from sin. The Law of God could reveal the sins of men, but could not remove sin from them. But now a God-appointed High Priest was seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Jesus Christ had offered His own blood as the perfect sacrifice for all man’s sins, once for all.
Under the old covenant, the sacrifice of animal blood could cover the sins of men but could not really cleanse their consciences from sin. God has placed a conscience inside of man. A conscience is a basic understanding of what is right and what is wrong, a knowledge of good and evil. When we do wrong, our conscience brings conviction to us. When we respond properly to the conscience, we confess or take responsibility for the wrong that was done and ask God for forgiveness. We also should seek reconciliation with those wronged if possible. This process is call repentance.
As a Jew under the old covenant, sacrifices were laid out for sins committed in ignorance. All forgiveness before God must come through a blood sacrifice. “In the same way, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The Jews were thus taught that their sins required the death of an innocent animal to bring about forgiveness before God.
“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:13-14) Under the new covenant, we have a better sacrifice. The blood of Christ can actually cleanse our consciences and enable us to serve God without fear of death or punishment. Aren’t you thankful for the new covenant and a clean conscience!