THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM
The sacrificial system had one major problem in the O.T. It provided temporary forgiveness because it was based on the blood of animals. We know that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:4). That is why year after year, the high priest would go in and sacrifice over and over again. The Old Testament system provided no permanent cure for sin (Hebrews 7:23-28). It was just an outward temporary cover that did not touch the root of sin; that is why sacrifices of bulls and goats were being repeatedly carried out over and over again.
The Bible says that sin shall not have dominion over you when you are not under law but under grace. So if you are living in sin, you are definitely not under grace (Rom.6:14).
Jesus has mediated for us a better covenant, a covenant of GRACE and not of WORKS, guaranteed for us by a cosigner (Hebrews 7:22). It is a covenant marked by BELIEVING and RECEIVING instead of by EARNING and DESERVING.
Paul says:
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even as we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal.2:16)
Nobody is saved any other way than by faith in God, in Christ, in His death and resurrection.
Without the blood there is no power! The blood is of Jesus is everything!
It is the central focus of our faith, the present and eternal life of our souls. There is no pardon, no salvation, no righteousness, no sanctification, no justification, no heaven but by the blood of the Lord Jesus.
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CAN WASH AWAY YOUR SINS
It is only by that one sacrificial death of Jesus Christ that was total in every aspect! That was complete in every respect! That we have access to a holy God and can stand right with Him today. We don’t stand right with God because of our religiosity! We don’t find favour with God because of our righteousness! We are not accepted in His presence because of our respectability! We don’t have a place in heaven because of how good we have lived in this world! The truth of the matter is that there was a DIVINE EXCHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE CROSS BY THE SINLESS SOUL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Nothing else can wipe away our sins except the blood of Jesus! Nothing else can push back the power of darkness, except the blood of Jesus! Nothing else can set us free, except the blood of Jesus! Nothing else can heal us of all our sickness and diseases, except through the blood and broken body of our Lord Jesus!
In fact, according to the Law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Heb.9:22).
THE BLOOD OF JESUS CRIES OUT FOR MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
The blood of Jesus speaks of mercy and forgiveness. He offered up His own blood at the mercy seat of the Father. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God (Rom 5:9).
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22-23)
It is only by what CHRIST sacrificed for us on Calvary that you and I have a right standing with God.
WE BECOME A RECIPIENT OF THE GRACE OF GOD BY FAITH AND NOT BY WORKS THAT ANY MAN CAN BOAST
This was the very reason why Paul became so upset with the Galatians when he discovered they were going back, trying to earn their blessings by good works.
He says:
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Gal.3:1)
In other words, Paul was saying, “How in the world could you ever accept a doctrine of salvation by works when you have already tasted salvation by faith?
He said, “You started well in the spirit! You ran well! You performed well! He is asking; Is it some kind of evil spell or charm that has blinded or mesmerized you from walking in the truth? You have given up Christ and gone back under the Law.” Trying to perform! Trying to earn your righteousness from God. How could you ever add anything to the cross when Jesus said: “It is finished.”
HOW CAN GRACE TRANSFORM SOMEBODY?
The story of Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke 19:
Behold there was a man named Zacchaeus a Publican. A Publican is a Jew working for the Romans. They were wicked, ruthless and unreasonable exploiters of the people. Because of this they were normally excommunicated from the temple and thrown out of the Jewish community.
Jesus walked right up to Zacchaeus in Luke 19, Zacchaeus had said nothing to Jesus. He looks at him at the Sycamore tree. Jesus calls up to Zacchaeus to come down. “Today I am going to have lunch with you.” What is that? That is grace.
Let’s see what grace does to Zacchaeus. He runs ahead as Jesus gets to his house. All Jesus said was I am going to eat lunch with you. Jesus never told him to clean up his life, only then I will come to your house.
How did grace impacted Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus said: “This day I will give half my goods to the poor. And whatever I have stolen I will give fourfold to them.”
All Jesus said was, “I am going to have lunch with you today”. Jesus did not tell him to put his life right! Jesus did not tell him to put his house in order! Can you see what grace can do to you today? I am telling you when you get embraced by the love of God, you bet your life, you don’t want to sin anymore. Only then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to your house.”
“When you fall in love with Jesus, you will fall out of love with sin.”
You will never have the inclination to sin again.
God sent His Son to die for you while you were still a sinner. Obviously, He does not love you only when you are perfect in your behavior and thoughts. His love for you is unconditional.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is a mission minded pastor who carries an apostolic anointing who preaches and teaches an uncompromising gospel with boldness. A member of ECCM (Malaysia) Spiritual Adviser & overseer to various ministries and churches. An itinerant speaker. He is also the author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time Clock.’ Currently he worships at C3 Subang.
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Rev Dr Jai Kumar
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