Are you really Depending on the Blood? - 2/18/2017

WARNING PREACHY

Ephesians 1:7-8a

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us.

The biggest difference between world religions (even some “Christian” denominations) and true Christianity is how redemption is acquired.  

For world religions (and even some denominations) redemption is earned.  Either by doing some form of good works, penance, or sacred ceremony, a person is said to be redeemed from their sin or transgression.  However, the Christian faith is not like this because the redeemed person is redeemed because of God.  Ephesians 1:7 states it clearly, “we have redemption through his blood.” 

“Redemption through his blood” means exactly that, it is the blood of Jesus that redeems us.  And why not?  God is certainly able to offer such an extravagant grace to us.

God is Immutable

Immutable means that God is perfect, nothing can be change about God to make him any better than he already is.  This is like a bucket filled with water, the very moment the water is at the brim and can’t hold another drop without dripping over the edge, it is immutable.

God is Holy

Holy means separate from sin; God is altogether not like you and me, where you and I tolerate, accept, and even enjoy sin, God does not.  It is God’s holiness that gives him the ability to cure the sin in us.  God is the surgeon (so to speak) who will remove our appendix, but we keep trying to do it ourselves.

God is Love

Love has a few different meanings.  You can love like I love Thai food, or you can love like I love my mother, or you can love like I love my wife, or you can love like the soldier who threw himself on the grenade to save his fellow soldiers.  This last kind of love is what God is; his love is sacrificial to the core.  And his being love is practically displayed the Passion and redemption is achieved through the Cross.

The holy, immutable blood that flowed down the cross showed his true being for mankind because his blood redeemed us from the natural consequence of sin; we’ve been given a great and incredible grace.  And despite this, most religions in the world are literally hell-bent trying to convince us that we can redeem ourselves if we just do or say the right things.

So how about it, are you doing your best to redeem yourself, or are you depending on the riches of his grace?

I hope I’ll see you at the cross.