Faith in His Blood

DEVOTION

HEBREWS

FAITH IN HIS BLOOD

Heb 9:16-10:1

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

NIV

It is a lot of scripture, but simply one idea, one thought, one truth that cannot be broken up into little tidbits of information. It is the culmination of the old and the new, the finale as it were. Although all the stuff on earth had come into effect because of death, and blood, of animals each and every day for each and every sin committed by the people, it is no longer that way. Could it be possible as we consider our sins on a daily basis, that is we come to God each and every time we fail, even in the smallest account that we are in some why acting in the manner of the old covenant? Even then all the old was put into effect with animal blood, but the one covenant with the blood of Jesus, who is the ultimate sacrifice one and for all and for everyone. But as in the old each day people would have to bring sacrifices to have the blood shed for the forgiveness of their sin. Even the high priest could not enter the most holy place, without the shedding of blood. Do we shed Christ blood every time we seek forgiven for our sins? Or are we just claiming forgiveness of our sin based on the shed blood of Jesus? If Jesus did shed his blood one and for all, that is not like the old covenant, but as the new covenant, then for what reason need to daily claim that blood? Sure, we might fail daily, we sin daily, and we cannot attain perfection, although I was once told by a believer that he could not remember the last time he had sinned. It was funny, as I thought to myself he was sinning right then and now with his spiritual pride. But the question which arises is must we shed his blood daily? If God knows that we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that we have confessed we are sinners and we are saved by faith in Christ and faith alone, why must we continue to ask over and over again for forgiveness? Does God condemn us each day because of a sin we commit? Does he take away the blood of Jesus from us? Do we have to live as if we are under the old covenant or are we covered by the new covenant? Jesus cannot die on the cross over and over again, shedding his blood every time we fail, every time we sin, so why do we need to bring this sacrifice each and every day? DO we live by the law, or by faith? Do we trust in the blood of Jesus or do we trust in our bringing a sacrifice? Could it be churches attempt to get control of their congregations by fear of losing salvation unless we sacrifice daily for our sins? Isn’t that the old and not the new? Sure we should not go about sinning as we please, but also we should not every feel condemned either. Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. One act of righteousness brings life to all men. It is finished, it is done, he shed his blood one and for all, we are cleansed from all unrighteousness, we are made holy and acceptable in the sight of God. We need to live like it, free from the guilt and shame of sin, free from the burden of daily sacrifice, free from condemnation. Of course we should not just go about sinning all we desire, just so God’s grace will abound, but at the same time we should not crucify our Lord daily either. Live by faith, faith in his blood.