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| February 16, 2002 |
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| "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:12-14 If the blood of animals could remove ceremonial defilement, surely the blood of Christ can take away the guilt of of sin. After all, if the blood of goats and calves had been adequate, Christ never would have shed His blood to do the adequate job! "Purge your conscience." The ordinance of the red heifer in Numbers 19 speaks of the life of the believer and the fact that as believers we need constant cleansing. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin . . . If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:7,9). The blood of Christ cleanses the conscience ~ not the flesh! It is the conscience within us which needs to be cleansed. We have not really arrived until we enter into this marvelous sacrifice of Christ, recognizing His authority to absolutely forgive and cleanse us from sin. It is the conscience that has been made alert by the Word of God, but it can also rest in a finished salvation. We can pillow our heads at night knowing that our sins are entirely, totally, fully forgiven. We can know that we are right with God because Christ has made it right! "Purge your conscience from dead works." Dead works have to do with works that you do thinking they will save you. When we are dead in trespasses and sin, all we can do is dead works. Anything that you do to try to earn your salvation is a dead work! Because "good works" are never a cause of salvation but are a result of salvation, the Bible goes on to say, "purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." The word "serve" is actually "worship." We are to worship the living God! Worship and service go together. You can't serve God without worshiping Him. Neither can you worship Him without serving Him. When you see "lazy" Christians about you, don't question their salvation, but you may want to question their worship! And we can all start by looking in our mirrors and at our own inner beings before we start looking at others! Do we really worship God? Would we be pleasing to His sight? Do we fall down on our knees before Him in adoration and praise? If we do, then when we get up on our feet, we are going to do something for Him! I do not work my soul to save ~ That work my Lord has done. But I will work like any slave For love of God's dear Son! (Author Unknown) The most holy place in existence is in the presence of God or in heaven. Is there a place for you there? May God bless you with a wonderful week-end of service! Love in Christ Jesus, Sandy |