Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyeson high and see Who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them ALL by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
Contrary to the sometimes misconstrued public perception of what the Christian life seems to be about – us focusing on trying to win favour with God by doing ‘good things’, the true good news of the Bible, the gospel of grace is anything but that. When examined carefully in its raw unbiased form unfiltered by various denominational interpretations, God declares through the gospel of Jesus Christ to all those who listen: ‘You cannot win My favour by any good you do. Relax, I forgive you completely, I love you completely inspite of all your faults and I want to bless you with everything and be with you forever.’
Such good news is the only thing on earth that does not fit the description – ‘too good to be true’. It is the only thing that is so good and is so true at the same time. To gain a further comprehension or revelation of this love that God has for us is the life of a believer in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 34:3
Oh, MAGNIFY the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Looking recently in my mind’s eye at Jesus’ blood shed for me on the cross, trying to comprehend how complete my forgiveness in Christ is, I began to compare images asking ever so quietly, ‘Is it enough?’ ‘How can one Man be enough to pay for mine and the sins of the whole world to cover all people who have ever lived and who ever will live?’ But as quickly as these questions came, they fell away just as quickly. Faith can only be if there is doubt to contrast it. The Holy Spirit quiets all our doubt gently, lovingly and reassuringly with a resounding ‘Yes’ in the Bible, ‘His blood is more then enough to pay for ALL.’
1 John 1:7
…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL sin.
God, the infinite being, the maker of the stars who calls each by name (Isaiah 40:26) whose throne is the universe with the earth as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1) tells the whole world that He loves us and sent His only Son Jesus Christ to shed his blood for us and cleanse us from ALL our sin (Hebrews 9:22, John 3:16). The Redeeming Blood of Christ is MORE then enough.
To have Jesus’ loving sacrifice, His death and resurrection, magnified in our minds instead of ourselves and our own estimation of the greatness of our sin is what God continually shows us in His Word is all we need to do – simply see Jesus, look to Him, believe and receive His love and forgiveness. Through the Holy Spirit in our hearts He says, ‘peace, it has all been paid for’. Seeing the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross AND as importantly, His resurrection from the dead gives our hearts this peace.
1 Corinthians 15:17
…if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Jesus having been raised from the dead is the only way we can know we have been redeemed. Collins English dictionary defines ‘Redeem’ as: ‘to make up for’, ‘to pay off a debt’, ‘to buy back’. Yes we often see pictures of Jesus on the cross, but to also see our redemption from our sins through His resurrection is what brings faith to our hearts: Jesus ‘made up for’ and ‘paid off our sin debt’. When we magnify our sin, doubt to believe in God’s love for us, in His heart’s desire to provide for, bless and protect us, nullifies or makes our faith futile.
Hebrew 10:17
….faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [the word for God here in the Greek is ‘Christo’: Christ]. 1
Hearing and hearing about Christ – His grace, His death, the shedding of His blood, His resurrection and therefore our redemption from sin – brings faith and without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
From the medicine I remember from University blood is the means by which the body is cleansed of bacteria and contaminants and also the means by which provision of energy can reach each cell in the body. The largest number of cell types in the blood which provide energy to cells are the Red Blood Cells (RBC). God who made you and me in our mother’s wombs (Psalm 139:13-14) made these natural properties our blood reflecting the supernatural properties of our Saviour’s precious blood. The Redeeming Blood of Christ (RBC) cleanses us from ALL the contaminating sin of our entire life and provides life and blessing to us! (Galatians 3:14)
How precious and invaluable is the blood our Saviour Jesus Christ? Jesus came down from His throne in the heavens, walked amongst us, suffered ridicule, scorn and death because He thought you and I were SO worth the shedding of His blood!
Amazing Love!
Be at peace, ALL has been forgiven! Amen!
Reference:
1. Unmerited Favour, Joseph Prince, 2009.