Tag: no forgiveness
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!
Ready to meet God?
Scripture reading for April 9th: Luke 13:1-22
“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
We sometimes have a tendency to make judgments about violent events or deadly natural disasters. It is easy to speculate that God punished the ones who died because of some hidden vile sin and they deserved it. Some came to Jesus with a report of some Galileans who had been slaughtered by Pilate as they were offering sacrifices. They were probably Jewish Zealots who had gone to Jerusalem to the temple and Pilate had them brutally slaughtered to eliminate the possibility of sedition. The common theology would have said that they suffered in this way because of God’s judgment! Jesus said this was not necessarily the case. The real need was for those now hearing Him to repent themselves!
Jesus then brought up another report of a collapsed tower that had fallen on workers and killed them. If these were Jewish workers, they were working for the Romans and the common judgment was that God punished them for their compromise with the pagan Roman government. Jesus said that this was also not the case. The people’s greatest concern should be for their own readiness to meet God.
Dying without repentance is the worst possible thing that can happen to anyone! God must judge them for their sins when they could have found forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus went on to warn them that they also must produce fruit in their lives. Like the story of the fig tree that had only taken up valuable space but produced no fruit, God is looking for fruit from each person and His people. His patience will run out and the tree without fruit will be cut down! It’s time to focus on our own hearts and quit judging others! Facing the Lord could happen at any time! I want to be ready!