Life Blood

Jesus did not defend us for our sins before the Father in heaven – HE died and rose for it! Nothing else bring us before God as redeemed, justified, sanctified and filled with wisdom. My repentance of sin is worthless without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). Jesus' death on the cross leads to my own sin-death through faith – only that is the saving faith which sets us free from the righteous judgement of God. If there had been another way to accomplish this heavenly work it would have been different. If it were possible for us to become righteous, worthy and holy without the shed blood of the Son of God – would the eternal God not then have spared His beloved Son? God proves His love through sacrificing His only Son – at the hands of sinners (Romans 5:6-9). His blood made us righteous! Whoever rejects this, through moral and ethical reasons, has no part in the salvation and is eternally lost – even if he calls himself a Christian. All we need for a life as a Christian in this world, we receive through His divine power and His grace. His divine power has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, whereby we also have become partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). All that therefore qualifies us as children of God and followers of Jesus is the precious blood of Jesus, which was shed for the remission of sins on the cross (Matthew 26:28). This is fundamental and has a deep meaning – we are heirs of God! God's covenant with His people (Israel), His heirs and the children of God through all times and nations, only becomes valid when death accomplishes its work – only then the inheritance comes into effect (Hebrews 9:15-17). One cannot inherit anything whilst the bequeath-er is still alive, just as there is no remission without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22).

What transpired at Calvary over 2000 years ago, was a unique, unrepeatable sacrifice, which was symbolized in the Old Testament through the many different sacrifices. It is not about rituals, but that the evil and its power, and with it sin is overcome and justice prevails – also justice against the evil. Satan accuses humans before God day and night (Revelation 12:10). Through Jesus, he has no more authority – the price has been paid! Christ was sacrificed once to pay for the sins of many and to reverse and eradicate the sin forever. That was the reason for His first coming. By one sacrifice Christ has perfected forever those who are sanctified (Hebrews 9:28 and 10:14). There is therefore no other Name (Jesus Christ) and also no other sacrifice (the cross at Calvary) or law, whereby one can be saved (Acts 4:12). Anyone who claims otherwise, or alleges that the sacrifice of Jesus is insufficient, or should be repeated, makes a mockery of the Son of God (Hebrews 6:6). I do not want to be in the man's shoes who does not accept God as full and complete and thus mocks Him (Hebrews 10:29) – God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7). The Word of the cross is also a word of blood and we cannot claim God's grace and love without also mentioning what it cost God to redeem us through His Son. His wounds and suffering is our salvation and thereby we are dead to sin once and for all (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus lives and is risen and so are we. His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Jörg Bauer