Hebrews 12:23b-24 "You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."
The blood of Abel speaks about the first gross act of sin, recorded in scripture, after the fall of man. It speaks about innocent blood being shed. The blood of Abel cries out about the horrible injustice done to him. Abel's blood demands justice. It fully reveals sin, taking the cloak off of it and shows it for what it is - ugly and evil. Abel's blood speaks of the law and the requirements for justice.
Yet the blood of Jesus shed at the hands of murderers does not cry out for justice. It is justice applied. His blood answers the blood of Abel. The blood of Jesus covers over and thoroughly cleanses. It is God's answer to the sinful act of shedding Abel's blood. Instead of crying out for vengeance and justice, the blood of Jesus cries out to the lawbreaker about God's reconciliation and restoration. Abel's blood justly accuses, while Christ's blood answers that accusation with God's mercy and forgiveness.
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:7-8). Isn't it incredible that God "lavishes" the riches of His grace upon us? We committed sin, turned our backs on God, and yet He was pleased, even eager, to give us all mercy and forgiveness by sacrificing His only Son on our behalf. That is grace!
Who is he that accuses? Where are they that condemn?
John 8:1-11 says: "Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?""No one, Master.""Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin." (The Message)
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).
Therefore, "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17b-19).
No comments:
Post a Comment