JC Blog

“The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” ( Hebrews 7:18-19 )

The solution to the chasm that sin created is not the Law. As this passage clearly declares using it in this way is weak, useless and ineffective. Paul called the Law the ministry of death ( II Corinthians 3:7 ). So relying on it to bring us into fellowship with God, bridging the gap caused by sin, only brings us death and condemnation.

On the other hand, if it is used in accordance to its true purpose then we will be justified by it. “the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law” ( Galatians 3:24-25 ). The Law was set aside when Jesus ushered in the New Covenant because it was useless in bringing a person into perfect fellowship with God ( Hebrews 7:11 ). The Law defined our sin in relation to God’s holiness. So in essence it accused us before God, bringing further separation instead of reconciliation. Which is why Paul told Timothy, the Law was not made for the righteous man, but for sinners ( I Timothy 1:8-9 ). It showed us the need for a savior. So trusting in Christ to save us is the better hope that this passage is describing by which we draw near to God for reconciliation.

Paul made this very observation about the purpose of the Law in Romans 7, “What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. ( Romans 7:7-13 ).

The main point that the writer is making is that to draw near to God we must set aside the Law, because the Law strengthens sin in our lives increasing its hold on us instead of bringing us the reconciliation we need.  Instead we should cling to the better hope by which we have full access to God.

This blessed hope is in the person of Jesus Christ who has paved the way for us to enter blamelessly into the God’s very presence ( Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-22 ).  His blood has completely wiped away the effects of sin in our lives once for all ( Hebrews  9:12, Hebrews  9:14, Hebrews  9:26, Hebrews  9:28, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 10:18, Hebrews 10:22 ). This is why we have this access. Jesus imputed His righteousness to us when we believed; the righteousness required to fulfill the entire law. Adherence to the law couldn’t make us righteous because of our sin nature ( Galatians 3:21 ). However Jesus fulfilled it because He was sinless. Then He gave us His Spirit to replace that sin nature when we were born again, which is how He imputed His righteousness to us. This is why He is the better hope by which we can come before God.

When we understand this, it gives us boldness and confidence before God instead of uncertainly and fear. Under the Law, the High Priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies and into the presence of God once a year when he made atonement for the people. However, when Jesus was crucified on the cross the curtain that had separated the people from God’s presence was torn entirely in two from top to bottom ( Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:24 ). This was done by God himself showing us that Jesus paved the way for us to come with full assurance of faith and clean consciences ( Hebrews 10:22 ). His body is now the curtain by which we can freely enter at will ( Hebrews 10:20 ).

This is why the law is set aside when we are saved, because its purpose has been fulfilled in bringing us to Christ to be justified by faith. Now that Jesus is our High Priest, He assures this access eternally. “For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever” ( Hebrews 7:28 ). Jesus is the better hope which gives us confidence before God.

Many people misinterpret the effects of sin as inherited from Adam. Many assume that this offense caused us to sin. While this is true, we do sin on an individual basis, the effects of Adam's trespass was much more devastating. In this chapter Paul clearly teaches that not only do we sin on an individual basis, but more accurately, we sin is on a continual basis because Adam's transgression made all men sinners. In other words, through Adam, we inherited a sin nature.

Trying to live a good life, trying to live at harmony with each other and trying to live in accordance to the ten commandments does not work. We were born with a sin nature and therefore cannot break free from sins grip on our own accord. This is why Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." This is a hard idea to grasp until you know understand this concept of the sin nature. You were born with the spirit of this world, you belonged to the kingdom of darkness and polluted by a sin nature because of what happened in the garden. However, II Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Meaning that, when you trust Jesus as your savior and put all your hope of righteousness in Him alone, you are born again. At that time the most miraculous thing happens. God took the sin nature, the nature of this world out of you and puts His Spirit inside you. The old is gone, and the new has come. Colossians 1:13 says, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." ( Colossians 1:13 KJV ) You were freed from the sin nature when when you trusted Jesus as your Savior and were born again.

Not only did Adam's trespass create the gap between us and God and created a sin nature, it also made reconciliation with God on our own accord impossible. More importantly, just as sin, through Adam brought death, life which is what Jesus offers, brought justification. And Paul stresses that the grace we received was much more in every way. Jesus completely undone what was done through Adam, and this truth is powerful. Through faith in Jesus we have a new spirit that no longer belongs to this world. The sin nature has been completely destroyed and removed. God's abundant grace overwhelmed and overcame it much in every way.

The next thing that Jesus completely reconciled was condemnation and guilt due to our old sin nature. If the judgement that followed the creation of the sin nature caused condemnation, the gift of grace through Jesus completely annihilated sin and the affects of it upon our person. Under judgement we are fully aware of and fully condemned of sin. So the opposite must be true. Through Jesus we should be fully aware that we are forgiven, righteous and a holy consecrated people because of him. No longer suffering under the spirit of this world, but rejoicing through the spirit of the kingdom of light through whom we have no received reconciliation ( Romans 5:11 ).

Today passage is a marvelous thing to understand and rejoice in. Gods grace is so abundant so that we should be celebrating it every chance we get. I pray that God will enlighten your spiritual eyes and give you a revelation of this wonderful truth. God bless you!

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!

Occasionally while I am driving I will see the old bumper sticker, "No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know peace" and it makes me smile. In the midst of this tumultuous time, many people are looking and longing for peace. However, just like the truth written on the bumper sticker, unless you know Jesus, as your Savior, peace is an elusive thing.

Previously through our study in chapter four, we see that through faith we can obtain the righteousness that God ascribes to by believing in Jesus and putting our total faith in him. Through his death and resurrection on the cross he has offered us total redemption and justification through his blood shed for us. Being justified before him, brings us to a state before God, whereby it is as if we had never sinned. This is great news because Romans 6:23 say, "for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord" Our sin brought with it, death and separation from God, however Jesus' redemptive work on the cross paid for sin once for all as he stood in the gap for us. ( Colossians 2:13-15, Hebrews 9:28, II Corinthians 5:21 ) If our sins are paid for then it is as if we had never sinned, so being justified before God brings us peace.

The amazing thing about this verse in Romans 5:1, is that it show how incredible God grace is and how much he loves us. While we were still sinners and enemies of God because of our sin, he sent Jesus to die for us and extended the offering of peace to us. Many Christian do no understand that we are at complete peace before God. He is not angry with us, he is not mad at us, our sin is not an issue with him... the truth is, he loved us so much he did everything possible to restore us unto himself, he stopped at nothing.

Many people go through life trying to fill the void, emptiness and longing for peace with everything else but what can truly satisfy. Jesus told his disciples in the book of John, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) It was imperative that they knew how to have peace, because all around them was trouble. Jesus is called the prince of peace. So even in a world where we lack peace and trouble surrounds us at every turn, by knowing Jesus we have peace, not only heart peace, but we have peace with God because we have been justified by him.

The only way to access this peace, is by faith in Jesus. Today I pray that as you read this, you make Jesus your Lord and savior and experience true peace before him. Knowing that you are at harmony with God will also bring heart peace into your life to enjoy always. Amen!

Christ's resurrection is the pinnacle of history. It was monumental because it proved once for all that Jesus had complete victory on the cross. Paul records at the end of Romans 4, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" ( Romans 4:25 ). Since he is alive and seated in heaven we can rest assured that we are justified on his behalf before God. His sacrifice for sin restored us to a state where it is just as if we had never sinned in the first place. His death and resurrection completely outdid and undone everything sin ruined.

"For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living" ( Romans 14:9 ). We live for Christ and we die for Christ, and everything in between belongs to him. We are not our own anymore ( Romans 14:8 ). We have been called into a wonderful fellowship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

This is why Christ came to earth as a ransom for many, to purchase our freedom so that He could be Lord of both the living and dead. The beautiful thing about this, is when we were dead, Christ made us alive. Colossians says, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ( Colossians 2:13-15 ). Now we are alive to live for him in the freedom and victory that was won so long ago.

We know that we will eventually experience physical death, but since Jesus is both Lord of the living and the dead, we know that He is able to make us alive again to live eternally with Him in paradise. What an awesome truth to understand. We live for the Lord, we die in the Lord and throughout our entire lives we belong to Him.  Today, I pray that you understand this amazing truth and start living it out in your daily walk. Remember that everything you do can be done as worship to the Lord. He is our life and our hope. May you be blessed abundantly with all wisdom and understanding, amen.