Posted on 01/12/2018 6:16:20 PM PST by metmom
"In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood" (Eph. 1:7, emphasis added).
Redeeming grace is free to us, but its cost to God is inestimable.
Sin is not a serious issue to most people. Our culture flaunts and peddles it in countless forms. Even Christians who would never think of committing certain sins will often allow themselves to be entertained by them through television, movies, music, and other media.
We sometimes flirt with sin but God hates it. The price He paid to redeem us from it speaks of the seriousness with which He views it. After all, we "were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
In Scripture the shedding of blood refers to violent physical death—whether of a sacrificial animal or of Christ Himself. Sin is so serious that without bloodshed, there is no forgiveness of sin in God's sight (Heb. 9:22).
The sacrificial animals in the Old Testament pictured Christ's sacrifice on the cross. That's why John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The Old Testament sacrifices were necessary but incomplete. Christ's sacrifice was perfect, complete, and once for all (Heb. 10:10). No further sacrifices are needed other than the "sacrifice of praise to God" for what He has done (Heb. 13:15) and our very lives in service to Him as "a living and holy sacrifice" (Rom. 12:1).
By His sacrifice Christ demonstrated not only God's hatred for sin, but also His great love for sinners. You could never redeem yourself, but Christ willingly paid the price with His own precious blood. He "gave Himself up for [you], an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Eph. 5:2). His sacrifice was acceptable to the Father, so your redemption was paid in full. What magnanimous love and incredible grace!
Suggestions for Prayer
Worship God for His wonderful plan of salvation. Worship Christ for the enormous sacrifice He made on your behalf. Worship the Holy Spirit for applying Christ's sacrifice to your life and drawing you to Christ in saving faith. Ask God to help you guard your heart from flirting with sin.
For Further Study
Read 2 Samuel 11.
What circumstances led to David's sin with Bathsheba? How did David attempt to cover his sin? How did David finally deal with his sin (see Ps. 51)?
Studying God’s Word ping
Very true. Sometimes I even minimize it in my own life.
I remember the first time I saw Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
I thought about my own sins, and I wept.
I hear you.
And I don’t think that what they showed in the movie of His beating was as bad as He got.
I think Jesus was in worse shape than they showed.
Maybe god should lighten up.
You may want to reconsider that opinion.
That’s a strange retort, indeed.
Why? A deity that sanctions mass murder and slavery shouldn't have a problem with American popular culture.
His justice demands payment. He is what He is. He changes not. Better accept it. Eternity in the lake of fire awaits those who refuse the free gift and trusting in their works to save them.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
What?
You think God, or we, should lighten up about murder?
Lying?
Immorality?
Sexual abuse?
Stealing?
Blackmail?
I think that since God in on record permiting and encouraging murder, slavery and sexual abuse, he shouldn’t get too wound up over pop culture.
That’s not an answer to the question.
Sorry, I guess you have misunderstood that we are not talking about Allah.
.....”I think Jesus was in worse shape than they showed”....
Isaiah tells us His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. I don’t think Hollywood could show the degree of his visual body....and they show a lot of blood and guts today.
I’m talking about Yahweh.
Humm-mm....so God doesn’t fit your conception of the Christian God?
The key issue in judgement is the character of God......Without understanding that God must judge sin one cannot understand the wonder of God’s forgiveness and grace or the amazing truth of the cross.
It’s only when sin reaches a certain level of severity that God decides to bring judgement...and rarely without strong warnings it’s coming.
An example the Canaanites had a possibility of fleeing the land as the Israelites advanced. (”Drive them out”)...In the case of those kings and cities that refused to do so, there was no option but annihilation. Had they left Canaan they would then have been treated like all other nations and the Israelites could have made treaties with them
One other thing......God’s judgement was primarily that the Canaanites would ‘lose the land’ because of their detestable religious practices and in order to preserve the purity of Israel’s worship of Him....
It sounds like you want The Creator to wink at your unrighteousness just enough to allow you eternal life in His presence.
You’re talking about your conception of Yahweh.’
The god you are describing does not exist in the Bible as Yahweh.
It probably does, however, pretty well describe Baal or Molech.
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