Power in the Blood of Jesus Christ
Holy Father, we come to You this beautiful Sunday morning. We declare that this is the day that the Lord has made. We enter this awesome day with thanksgiving in our heart. You gave us good health, sound mind and a peace that surpasses understanding.
We thank You for revealing Your loving kindness and faithfulness through Your wonderful Son, Jesus Christ. We declare Him as our Lord and savior. We exalt Him for His Cross and the blood He shed at Calvary for the forgiveness of sin. We now understand through His demonstration of who You are, a loving Father, that it is not Your desire that any man or woman should perish in hell.
Rather, through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, everyone is granted clemency and reinstated as a redeemed child of God. And positioned towards right relationship with You to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What an awesome God You!!! We invite You Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts as we write on the Lord’s goodwill and provision for all mankind.
We bind satanic powers that blind people from understanding the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of our invisible God. Almighty God, may You open people eyes of understanding so they can make the right choice and receive this good news of Salvation in Christ. May they receive the gift of eternal life through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The glory of true knowledge and understanding
We admire and appreciate our physical world through our various sense organs for sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. And we make judgments through our thought processes as intelligent beings with a will power for self-actualization and determination.
But we have been deceived to a large extent to focus on the physical world at the expense of the spiritual world. The unseen world is even more real and lasting compared to our physical or material world. Everything is manufactured by an intelligent being, and man is created by a Super Intelligent being, God, the Almighty. The devil has blinded mankind to focus mainly on what he or she can know through the physical senses or natural mind.
However, the Bible, the authorized constitution of God, and Manual of mankind reveals, that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God. Since God is Spirit, it means humans are spiritual being with a physical body or tent. Mankind also has a soul, as revealed by this Manual, which consists of the mind, emotions and will. God, as Spirit, can only communicate with mankind through the spirit component. The spirit of man had pre-eminence over the soul in the original design of the Maker until the Fall.
The great deception of Adam and Eve, caused a spiritual separation from God and loss of communication. The soul of man then gained pre-eminence over the spirit component. Humans then defaulted to Religion as an attempt to connect with the unseen world. This attempt by man to reach out to the unseen was based on his own terms and has caused untold havoc in the relations between persons, tribes and nations. In His great love, the Father made an easy way to re-connect with all mankind. God inaugurated a relationship of trust through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (ignorance of spiritual truths).
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6.
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, (human reasoning by natural mind) that Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles (non-Israelites) has come in.” Romans 11:25
Now if many in Ancient Israel were ignorant of the nature of God and His ways, then the rest of the world, regardless of all their religious practices are in big trouble. The Lord made Himself known through Moses. He gave them the Law; the Ten Commandments but they failed woefully in keeping them.
“For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
1 Corinth. 1:19-20
It is impossible to understand God or to rightly relate to the One who dwells in the spiritual realm with our natural mind or human intelligence. Such attempts led to myriads of religious systems that are simply based on superstitious beliefs and self-serving ventures.
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:23
So what caused mankind to default to a fruitless attempt to connect to God through their soul instead of the spirit? Separation from God, a work of Satan, resulted in spiritual and physical death.
“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has Blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
2 Corinth. 4:3-4
Spiritual blindness and ignorance was a consequence of Adam’s disobedience and, therefore, forfeiture of mankind glorious privilege to commune with God. And be His rightful representative over the physical realm. But we have a loving Father who is faithful in all His dealings. Whatever He initiates He has the surpassing wisdom to redeem and restore even at the cost to Himself. He made a way for all mankind through the Cross and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
“The (reverent) fear of the Lord (that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome) is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom (its starting point and its essence), And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.” Proverbs 9:10
When you recognize the fact that you were created by God, our Heavenly Father, and turn your heart (the center of your life) to Him in humility. And receive His gift of love, Jesus Christ, the Holy One, that’s the beginning of true wisdom. And a life of forgiveness, peace and joy of His presence in your life. It is a free gift of His righteousness, received by Faith. Your good deeds or self-righteous acts do not matter before God. The sin issue and burden must be taken away by the only One who can do that; and your conscience cleared of guilt and condemnation through the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed at Calvary. Then your spiritual eyes will be opened to understand God and His ways.
“Nevertheless, when one turns (in repentance) to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” 2 Corinth. 3:16-17
“He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross (willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice), so that we might die to sin (becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin) and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you (who believe) have been healed. For you were continually wandering (lost) like (so many) sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25
“For He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin (though sinless) for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinth. 5:21
Jesus Christ, as the Anointed of the Father, and the Messiah, carried the burden of sin and buried it in the grave. And God’s justice system must be satisfied. The penalty of sin and rebellion must be paid. The perfect righteousness of the Son of God, made His sacrificial blood acceptable to satisfy the Father’s righteous judgment over sin. God is Holy and cannot compromise His holiness, even, as He is also a loving Father.
“Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness. Otherwise you also may be cut off.” Romans 11:22
“And according to the Law (of God) almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
While ancient Israel was in the captivity of the godless nation of Egypt, a temporary provision was made for them to escape the final plague. The final judgment over Egypt was the death of all their firstborn sons in one night. God asked the Israelites to put a smear of blood from a lamb without blemish, in the form of a cross on their doorpost. On that particular night, the destroying angel will Pass over every household with such blood on the doorpost. And spare their firstborn sons but that of the Egyptians were killed for the hardness of heart and rebellion of Pharaoh.
“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption…………..How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:11-14.
God, the Father, has sent a special invitation to you. He is zealous for your soul. The Devil wants you to join him in the dungeon of hell fire. But hell was not meant for mankind but for the Devil and the fallen angels (demons). Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace due to His unfailing love and compassion for mankind. You must make a choice while you are alive. There is no purgatory!!! That’s one of the deceptions of religion. After death, you must come before the judgment seat of Christ. Not accepting Christ means rejection of mercy, and by inference, invitation of the fiery wrath of God. Jesus took the wrath so that you do not have to face it. So, we encourage you to receive His forgiveness and reconciliation before it is too late!!!
“And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
Even if your sins are glaringly offensive or morally reprehensible, the potency in the blood of Jesus will cleanse you and make you pure in the eyes of God. And no person can stand before God and claim to be righteous. Everyone was born in sin and need a Savior!!!
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18b
And Jesus made things clearer to His disciples, “Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:46-47
“And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel (Good News of Christ underserved mercy) to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16
In obedience to the Great Commission, apostle Peter, preached the gospel at the inauguration of the Church and about three thousand souls were saved in a single day!!! They recognized the seriousness and the urgency of the matter and asked the greatest question that is relevant to every person’s eternal destiny: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37
And Peter responded, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39
Repentance comes from the heart. It comes from the core of your being. It is a sense of godly sorrow for living a self-focused life that ignores or neglects God’s Sovereign right over your life as Creator. And One worthy of adoration and worship!!! It is a turning to God in Faith from a life of faithlessness or paganism or empty religious rituals which have no place in right relationship with the Almighty God.
So, what is God’s prescription for turning around from a self-focused life to a life of Faith in God and His Word?
“That if you Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and Believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one Believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth Confession is made unto Salvation.” Romans 10:9-10. Hallelujah!!!
You believe in your heart that you were born in sin and lived under the lordship of Satan. But now you believe in the saving grace of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the precious Lamb of God that shed His sinless blood at the Cross of Calvary. And God, the Father, glorified Him in the resurrection on the third day, for your justification. You Confess with your mouth that in Christ you are now forgiven and He is now the Lord of your life!!! This is the born again experience. Your spirit man or woman is now made alive to the Spirit of God. With the power to respond rightly to God and His Word in Faith.
So, what is the Baptism all about? And who should be baptized?
Biblical baptism is a total body immersion in water. This is Christian experience after one gets saved by His grace. This is a public declaration or demonstration of becoming identified with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no place for infant or young children baptism because they do not understand what it is all about. Jesus Christ is our model in everything concerning God. He was not baptized as a baby. The Word of God instructs us to raise our children by teaching them about God and His ways.
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:3-6
I give You my Praise:
Most Holy Father, we come to You again in the precious name of Jesus Christ. We Thank You for Your inspiration and guidance in putting this message together. It is the entrance of Your Word into the heart of man that brings understanding. We bind every demonic stronghold that blinds people from the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the only way to salvation and entrance into heaven. May hearts be touched and the power of saving faith be released, so many will cross over from darkness into Your marvelous Light, by accepting God’s only hope for mankind, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!