JC Blog

In American, July 4th marks a special day. This is the day when we celebrate our Independence. This day marked the beginning of a new life, new hope and new direction for our country so many years ago. Independence Day is an important day to remember and celebrate because it changed the course of our countries history.

In the same way, what Christ did for us in reconciling us unto God, changed the course of history for mankind. But this revolution only comes to those who accept and believe it. How then does that happen?

Do you see that faith is the deciding factor in how one is reconciled to God? The promise came to Abraham before he was circumcised so that the promise could be offered to everyone who believed. The promise foretold that all nations would be blessed by Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." ( Genesis 12:3 ). The Scriptures foretold that God would justify the Gentiles by faith ( Galatians 3:8-9 ). So it only is reasonable that the Jews, or those of the circumcision should have the same faith as the Gentiles in order to be justified.

Paul clarifies this in later on the book of Romans, when he explains who the true child of Abraham are. "It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring." ( Romans 9:6-7 ) So the true descendants of the promise are heirs by faith alone, not by law or by natural descent.

This is important to understand because association, heritage or bloodline does not make you righteous before God. The only thing required of you is faith. "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." ( Genesis 15:6 ). In the same way, when we believe upon, trust in and rely solely upon what Jesus did for us in fulfillment of the promise, then we obtain the like, precious faith of Abraham.

Know that you are not saved because your parents are Christians. You are not saved because you belong to a church. You are not saved by anything you do. You are saved by faith in the promise of God's grace alone. When you put your entire hope in Him, and trust in him as your Savior, then you are heir of the promise that was given to Abraham. He is your father in the sight of God, and you are fully justified by Jesus. This experience is truly an Independence Day, and one to put into remembrance always!

Not only did God demonstrate his love for us while we were powerless and held captive to sin, by sending Jesus, he made sure that this act of redemption was a one time victory. Not only are we justified through faith in Jesus' blood, but we are also saved from God's wrath by his blood. No longer are we enemies of God, instead we are His friends. We are fully justified, as if we had never sinned, by faith in his blood.

The first question that naturally arises, is why was Jesus' blood necessary? As you read the Old Testament especially in the Law books, you will see that every sin and transgression had a corresponding sacrifice to it. Hebrews 9:22 adds clarity to this when it says, "...the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." so a blood sacrifice was necessary to absolved sin and to receive forgiveness from God.

The blotting out of sin was accomplished through the shedding of blood. However Hebrews 10 reminds us, that if sacrifices of animals could made perfect the worshipper, would they not stop being offered? But as it stands, guilt remained upon the person because the blood of bulls and goats were never able to take away sin ( Hebrews 10:1-3 ). However, the Israelites continued to offer sacrifices year after year because guilt remained. And if guilt remains in a relationship then something is not right. However when Jesus came, his blood was able to completely clear the consciousness of sin upon the born again spirit. "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!" ( Hebrew 9:14 )

So the sacrifice of blood accomplished two things. First, it satisfied God's righteous wrath against sin and corruption. And secondly it was able to remove the traces of sin upon our conscience. We, no longer are held under sins dominion, subject to it's guilt and shame. In fact Colossians 1: 21-22 says, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." In other words, if Christ has presented you to God holy and blameless, then that is what you are. Through faith in Jesus, you are holy, pleasing and acceptable unto God.

"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." ( Romans 5:9-11 ) If when we were God's enemy, he sent Jesus to the cross to die a criminals death in our stead, what wouldn't he do for you now that you have receive right standing with him through faith in Jesus' blood? Jesus atonement for your sin had such a profound effect upon your born again spirit that when God looks at you he sees Jesus. That is cause for rejoicing today!