Gallons and Gallons and Gallons of Blood

Posted on October 1, 2015 by HolyJustLove

1 John 1:9 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 is one of the most loved and memorized verses of all time. We use it often and much yet I fear because of its over use we may gloss over its weight. Much like our desensitization of the cross as an actual capital punishment death chamber, also our understanding of sin and judgement has been desensitized.

Consider what had to be done for sin before the Cross, before Jesus for someone to be “cleansed from all unrighteousness.” A reading of the Old Covenant points to the redemption of the Lamb that was slain. We gloss over these verses but when you consider the sheer mass of animal sacrifices that went on during that time it is mind boggling. I used to visualize the priest in his white robe and ephod dazzling in the sun looking good in his Sunday School best. Realistically, however, they were covered in blood. Any butcher can tell you that animal killing is a messy business. The volume of animals sacrificed coupled with the continual throwing of the blood on the alter, I am certain the whole ordeal was a bloody splattered mess. Read the verses at the end to give you an idea of the masses of animals that were sacrificed. Don’t miss this: blood flowed, and it flowed heavily. This was no light matter.

So how, and why can a God who is righteous, a God who is just, be able to forgive us with the sacrifice of just ONE Man? That question alone is where we veer off course. The question should not be in light of the Man Jesus. That one Man was THE Lamb. He was the Lamb that was described over and over again in the Old Covenant. He was without blemish. Spotless. Perfect. Without sin… He. Was. GOD! God gave himself up as the heaviest thickest richest blood that would ever be or could ever be. It was His blood that was enough. His blood that could carry the weight of the sins of the world. Don’t miss it beloved! The weight of His blood should weigh on your heart every time you consider it. Your sin should weigh on your heart every time you consider it. He died and bled pure perfect righteous blood for you. He lived a life that was perfect. He lived a life you never could and died a death you deserved. All for you! It was the only way. Ponder it. Wonder at it. Glorify Him for it. Live for Him because He did something you could never accomplish and because of Him you are free. This verse should be memorized. It should be often flowing from your mouth. But consider the weight of it the next time you share it or meditate on it. It is quite a big deal. Praise God!

Here are some verses to give you some reference:

1 Chronicles 29:21 ESV
[21] And they offered sacrifices to the LORD, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the LORD, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

2 Chronicles 29:21-22 ESV
[21] And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. [22] So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar.

2 Chronicles 35:7 ESV
[7] Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; these were from the king’s possessions.

Son of Thunder Strikes Again

Posted on September 22, 2015 by HolyJustLove

1 John 1:7 ESV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Verse 7 is in contrast to verse 6 however it is different than we might expect. In verse 6 John writes, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” In verse 7, instead of saying “If we walk in the light, we have truth and fellowship with God” John states we have fellowship with one another referencing back to verse 3 where he is clear we have fellowship with each other because we have intimate fellowship with the Father and the Son. Do not put off being involved in your local church. Do not just be a pew warmer. If you died today, would you be missed at your church? If the answer is no, you have some work to do. There are three things you should be involved at your church: corporate worship (going to church on Sunday), small group study, like a men’s or women’s bible study or small fellowship group, as well as a service area, such as serving in the kids ministry, or being a greeter, or even serving in cleaning the bathrooms, the list is endless for service, but also remember that every need is not a calling. Find the area that best suits you and the gifts God has given you, but definitely be committed to your church.

John does not mince words and he is clear in how we should live and conduct our lives. He is calling out those who “claim Christ” yet do not live in the light. Light is often a symbol in all cultures as purity, knowledge, good, righteousness, and joy. Do you conduct your life in light of light? Do you consider yourself saved yet live a life in contrast to light? Do you feel you are a pretty good person and feel that you do, in fact, walk in light yet are a slave the things of this world? Things like your work, your kids, your hobbies, your material possessions, or your desire for a bigger house. Does the darkness have a foothold on you through your cellphone, your iPad, the internet, binge TV watching, sports, or any other distraction that is taking you away from living a life full of light? Don’t get me wrong. These things in and of themselves are not bad. It is when we consider or desire them too strongly in our lives or when we desire them over being the hands and feet of God. Desire the things of God. Desire fellowship with His children. Learn. Grow. Desire that your joy will be complete. Consider the sacrifice made on your behalf. You are no longer your own. Act like it. Live like it. Live in the light.

Broken Beyond Healing

Posted on September 16, 2015 by HolyJustLove

1 John 1:3 ESV
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The word for proclaim is apaggello which also gives weight to the fact that John was commissioned by Jesus to testify. Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship. It is specifically a word used for Christians. We have fellowship with each other only because we have fellowship with the Father AND the Son. John makes this distinction clear because his readers were dealing with heretics of their age that were stating Jesus the man was not the Christ. John is being clear that our fellowship as believers stems from our fellowship and intimacy with the Father and the Son.

Coming from actual on-the-scene eyewitnesses, we as believers can join in with the fellowship of the church and the blessed fellowship with the Father and Son.

This is so real to me as I have gotten tossed around by the world this week. Fellowship with Jesus and the Father is such a huge blessing however it is more so when done in the community of believers. I fear too many people today are lacking in this area. They church hop like they coffee shop hot. In fact, people are more attached to their favorite coffee shop than they are to their church. The fickle behavior of church goers state, “If I don’t feel good at my church, I’m out.” I get it. Family is hard. Being guided and reproved is hard. But as Proverbs 9:8b states, “reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” Too many of us are wise in our own eyes. We are unwilling to listen to criticism. We are stubborn to the point of breaking. Proverbs 29:1 states, “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.”

I don’t want to be broken beyond healing. Lord, help me to learn and grow even when it is hard. Help me to be moldable even by men. Show me respect and teach me love for those who correct me and are responsible for me. Give me leadership that leads well. Give me leadership that teaches and reproves me the way I need to be reproved and help me to be humble in my education which is my sanctification which is my life. You are everything and I will take all you have to offer in any means necessary to bring about the greatest growth and maturity in Christ.

Saturday Scriptures

Posted on August 31, 2013 by HolyJustLove

In light of the fact that God is the Almighty Creator of this universe (Genesis 1:1); the one who made us (Genesis 2:7), then we must admit that He is ultimately in charge of us. He created us to have a relationship with him and it was perfect. He is Holy, meaning he is set apart from anything or anyone on this planet. Because he is holy he desired for us to be holy too (1 Peter 1:16 and Leviticus 11:44). He says, “Be Holy, for I am holy.” Unfortunately, because we have a choice in how we respond to God, sin entered the world because people wanted to use their freedom in a selfish way (Genesis 3). They decided to do things their way rather than obey and follow God. Their choice in favor of sin rather than obedience to God caused them to be separated from God. We are now born into that sin and no longer have a perfect holy relationship with God. He is also Just. By this he must be the perfect judge. He cannot merely overlook this sin because it goes against everything that he is. He requires justice and he promises that he will punish sin (Isaiah 66:15 and 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The wages of sin is death and complete separation from God (Romans 6:23). I’ll say it again, we have no option other than complete separation from a holy God (Isaiah 59:2). Your payment for your sin will be required and that is what Hell is all about. By the grace of God, however, he has provided a solution. Thankfully, God is Love (1 John 4:8). He is the purest form of it. He came up with a perfect solution to the sin problem. This solution is a love so crushing that when you think about it, no human would ever do what he did. This loving, good news is that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, God in living human form (Colossians 1:15), to pay, in-full, the price of your sin by becoming the ultimate sacrifice (John 3:16). He died in the most brutal way possible, death by the Roman cross. He lived the life we could never live. A perfect life (2 Corinthians 5:21). He died a death that we fully deserved (1 Peter 3:18) yet he conquered that death by raising again from the dead to prove to the world that only through him could this debt be paid (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Because we still have a choice, it is up to God and you to accept the free gift of grace he is so lovingly giving to you (Romans 10:9-13, Acts 20:21). Living a good life, being kind to others, doing good deeds, and giving to charity will not get you into Heaven, it is only by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). You must turn from your sin and trust in Christ (1 John 1:9 and Acts 3:19). Give your life completely to God and have faith in Him (Philippians 3:9). Ask him to forgive you of your sins and ask God to take control of your life (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Thank the Lord that he is Holy, Just, and Loving.