The Blood!

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18, 19 NIV).

We sing songs about the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for us; we read that when He was crucified and the soldier stuck a sword in His side, both water and blood, poured forth. From the beginning–when Moses was given the commandments–there needed to be a sacrifice involving blood for the atonement of sin. We say we believe that.

Remember, Satan was a witness to the crucifixion–he also saw the blood–and probably decided then and there to influence the minds of people that the color red should be associated with evil. Sound a little far-fetched? I admit it’s speculation on my part, but think about it! How many times have we portrayed the devil as a “red” demon? How many times have people, in the church, associated wearing red with being promiscuous, loose, and ungodly? Why is that some churches want people wearing white while serving communion (denominational) when we should wear red?

Why? The devil wants everyone to forget about “the blood” and its power! What better way for us to take our focus off the power of the blood than by encouraging us to associate the color red with evil!

Call this a revelation–or whatever you want–I believe Holy Spirit provided me with insight about why some people tend to look at people funny; especially women–who were red to church. We have been convinced that she must be a harlot, wearing red in the sanctuary. We frown upon red lipstick, think red cars are too flashy, and whenever children are dressed in a costume representing the devil–it’s red. Well, red is also the color of the blood shed for our sins. There is power in the blood of Jesus because it was His shed blood that we now have access to heaven and in having our sins forgiven. His blood, that gives us strength, from day-to-day, shall never lose its power–as long as we remember–Red is not evil–it is the color of power in the name of Jesus.

So let’s stop associating evil and waywardness with the color red and remember that red is to be celebrated–a constant reminder of God’s love for us and the sacrifice He made that we might have abundant life–with His blood!

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No Way of Escape!

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26,27 ESV).

Under the law–animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin–the shedding of blood on an altar had to be made for the people–once a year.

Under grace–the blood sacrifice of The Lamb of God to atone for the sin of mankind–has been made on the cross–once for all times for all who receive the sacrifice on the altars of their heart.

If we understand the sacrifice made, the blood shed on the cross, the love of God for us in willingly taking on the likeness of flesh so we might be saved from ourselves, we would not deliberately sin–do all or any of those things that God says is sin. For if we deliberately sin–there won’t be another sacrifice made–only the assurance of a fearful fate of judgment by God.

If we have a relationship with God, we want to please Him and only do those things that are right in His sight, receiving His love and loving Him and others in return.

If we have a relationship with religion–rules and rituals created by man to control others in order to pacify men and justify doing anything they want to do (changing what God has said), we will not inherit the right to enter into heaven, but leave ourselves open to the judgment of Christ–with no escape.

If we have never acknowledged, or accepted the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we will be still be judged if God’s truth has been revealed to us and we simply refused to accept it.

There is only one way to achieve entrance into heaven and to shore up our eternal resting place–accept God’s Word–The Truth of the sacrifice made–and choose to live according to God’s directions and instructions–and not by the dictates of our flesh.  If we choose to ignore God and all whom He has used to warn and teach us, we have no escape from our deeds, but certain judgment awaits us, for the wages (the payment) for sin is death.

Trust His Mercy!

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12 NKJV).

Within the reflection and overview of the history of a people whom God chose, we see the explanation provided as to Who Jesus is, Where He is, and Why He came, again.

He is our high priest–ordained, appointed and established by God for all times.

He is sitting at the right hand of His Father, ready to advocate on our behalf--alleviating the need for mortal man to intercede for us.

He came because the people chose not to follow the mandates of the old covenant (The Law as given to Moses), to establish a new covenant–writing upon our hearts–what He wants us to know and do. It is because the people were not diligent in keeping The Law–making sacrifices for the atonement of sin (They made a business of it–selling the elements to be used for the sacrifices created a problem for the very poor; they had no means of atoning for sins since they couldn’t afford to pay for the elements.) With the new covenant, we can boldly approach the throne of grace for ourselves–whether we are rich or poor–and know with confidence that He hears us and forgives us and then “remembers our sins no more” as long as we do not repeat them. He cannot forgive sin for which we consistently do because by our very actions–we have not repented.

When we have repented (turned away from all things that are not like God) and live a life that pleases God, He does not remind of us of our sins to provoke us to guilt–He forgives and then forgets about them–wiping the slate clean.

Man is not so. We love to keep throwing the past at a person–attempting to make them feel guilty because of a lack of understanding. Once God forgives us–what “we did” (past tense) is nobody’s business and they have no right to keep fishing in our ponds when our sins are in the sea of forgetfulness. Now, we have to trust in His mercy–to forgive ourselves–and not allow the enemy to keep bringing our past before us. We did what we did; we repented, God forgave us and that is the end of the matter.

Don’t allow others to condemn you for the things God has forgiven. Let it go and trust in His mercy to guide you in forward movement, not past mistakes.