THE BLESSING OF THE CROSS

I have attempted to define for you what the word of God calls eternal redemption and eternal inheritance. On the surface, it sound like a difficult concept to grasp or even understand, but by carefully reading scripture, as it was intended, neither adding nor detracting anything from it, and in the context in which it was written, it should make sense to most folks. You need to understand that God is anxious for his children to understand him and his ways. What parent wouldn’t want the very same things for their children? God is not complicated, friends. He’ll make every possible effort, going to extreme measures to see that you are properly trained and taught from his precious word. This effort will reward the student by revealing to them the depth, height, length, and breadth of his love. There’s a phrase and song lyrics in the world that says something like this, “To know him is to love him”. And that is true.

The only time Christ ever used riddles, was when he was confronted with questions by the religious leaders, who proclaimed to be righteous and in right standing with God simply because of their position as church leaders and the fact that they adhered to the laws of Moses flawlessly. Christ called these men hypocrites and whited sepulchers. Matthew 23:27-28 KJV Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Christ knew the truth about such men as these and he exposed them for what they truly were. To others (e.g. the multitudes), he often spoke in parables, with a message that, with a bit of thought, revealed exactly what he meant. To those who truly hungered and thirsted for truth, righteousness, and intimacy, Christ often spoke plainly.

The Scribes and Pharisees didn’t want to be told the truths of God. They thought they knew everything anyway. We’ve all known such people. They merely wanted to entrap Jesus so they’d have something with which to accuse him; to put him to death. These people never received anything from God, in fact could not because their hearts were hardened like stone. Christ knew their hearts were evil, and wasn’t about to give them any words of life. As you can imagine, Jesus became a real pain in their neck and they hated him because of it, regardless of the numerous miracles he performed in front of them and the multitudes. He challenged them openly concerning their self-professed holiness and the supposed relationship they had with God because of the Laws Moses had given them. They were never his disciples and never would be. The religions of today are no better. They too claim to know God, but are far from him. In fact, religious people find it difficult to understand why followers of Christ find such pleasure in the presence of publicans and sinners.

God tells us that the message of scripture [the word of God] is for the average man or women, who have a genuine heart to receive the message of Christ, not necessarily the affluent or financially down and out. These people come from all walks of life, but they all have one unique thing in common. They know they need a Savior and have a longing in their hearts to hear the true spiritual message of the gospel; “the too good to be true Good News of the gospel”. With contrite hearts, Christ will not turn them away. In fact he was criticized by the religious leaders of his day for communing with these undesirable publicans and sinners (read the account for yourself – Mark 2:14-17 KJV).

Important fact of faith…
Take comfort friends, Christ sincerely desires to enlighten his precious saints, not to cause, or allow confusion to render them helpless and hopeless.

Just think about it for a moment. How could you possibly spread the message of hope to others, if you’re confused about it yourself? Here’s the truth about his coming. He ultimately did what we could not do for ourselves. He died for you and me. The ransomed price was paid for everyone and anyone who would receive the truth of it by faith.
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So, what is eternal redemption? Its redemption achieved by a single once only offering [Christ’s blood] that covers all sin, for all people [human kind], forever. In other words, it’s just as valid today as it was the on the very day Christ died at Calvary. It will never be duplicated. You need to know that with eternal redemption comes eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 9:12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

How did Christ do that? He entered into heaven; into the very throne room of God Almighty [the Holy of Holies], upon his death and provided the necessary blood sacrifice [offering] that God demanded for the sins of mankind. That is why he is called the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – John 1:36.

Here’s a unique way to think of it. Even the very smallest drop of Christ’s precious blood was more than sufficient to cover any sin that would ever take place in the world until his return.

By accepting Christ, your sins are forever covered, past present and future. Because he took care of the sin issue, it is no longer the element that separates mankind from their Creator. Now, if you can grasp this truth and receive it with humility, it will literally transform your life from that very moment.

What are your benefits? Let me show you.

Hebrews 10:1-2
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered?

Did you notice the question mark? It’s important. Here’s what this scripture is actually saying. If the animal sacrifices had really been sufficient to deal permanently with the sin issue forever, then they would have ceased to offer those sacrifices, and Christ would not have needed to die. But we know that was not the case. Since animal sacrifice was never meant to be fully sufficient, the Jewish people had to continue sacrificing animals, up until the time of Christ’s death. Their continual sinning demanded it, and their separation from God remained because of sin conscience.

When Christ died, the need for animal sacrifices ceased. The temporary reprieve offered by animal blood was replaced with the permanent fix for sin, Jesus’ very own blood sacrifice. Hebrews 7:26-27 ASV - For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the (sins) of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

The veil in the temple was rent [torn in to; from the top to the bottom], which signified that the perfect work of redemption was now complete. Christ’s death restored relationship for us with Almighty God. No longer would sin separate mankind from its Creator, nor hinder them from intimacy with the Godhead.

Something wonderful to consider…
How great was the finished work of Christ’s death? It’s revealed in this scripture - 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 KJV But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Satan didn’t understand the “hidden wisdom” of God, which was to reunite mankind with their Creator. So he had schemed to kill the Christ child early on and then later as an adult, but couldn’t get the job done. God would not yet allow it. When Jesus was finally betrayed and handed over to the religious leaders for execution, Satan thought he had won the game. In reality, God used this fool [Satan] to bring about the perfect work of redemption – the death of Christ, which was the perfect plan of God all along.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament could never make the sinner prefect. They were but a shadow of what was yet to come. The New Testament begins where the Old Testament left off.

The blood of Jesus Christ dealt with the issue of sin once and for all, forever. The thought of it now gives me goose bumps. I can’t help but shout with all joy and thanksgiving for his sacrifice.

His blood stripped the power of sin and its hold over mankind; in effect removing the burden of sin from our shoulders.

Not only did Christ’s blood deal a fatal blow to our sins from the past, present, and future, it also purged sin from the depths of our conscience - Hebrews 10:2 …because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

What a wonderful revelation this is; yet there are still problems.
The tragedy is that very few of God’s people actually know this to be true in their own lives. Being in a place where sin conscience no longer lives is difficult to imagine. Instead, many of God’s people are like those who lived in the Old Testament. They’re condemned by their sin and are taught that they must continually get their sin(s) under fresh blood. Just as the Israelites lived in a constant state of sin conscience, most Christians of today do to. It’s what they’ve be been taught all of their church going lives.

Most Christians are convinced [having been taught] they are horrible sinners, not fully understanding or appreciating what was provided for them by Christ’s death. Many fear that challenging established religion, or their denomination, on any level, will only invoke the wrath of God in their lives. Instead, they should be challenging everything they hear from the pulpits of their churches and denominational dogma. According to scripture, they’re to prove [test] the Word of God for themselves. Those not content to merely attend church, should never be satisfied with what they hear in the church. We are commanded to know truth for ourselves and to be diligent in our efforts to keep the word of God free from half-truths, or a person’s opinion.

Godly people, desiring to rightly divide the word of truth, are the ones who will hold the pastors and teachers accountable for the words they instruct, so that no error slips in. It benefits them, their pastors, and the members of the congregation. It’s a win, win situation.

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Friends, the days of feeling condemned for sin is long past. Read it for yourself in this scripture verse - Romans 8:1 KJV - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

If your church insists on a doctrine of condemnation for those who commit sin, then perhaps you should move on. Sin has its consequences, as I’m sure you realize, if left un-repented, but it no longer separates you from the Godhead. Access to the Throne Room of God is swung wide open to those who are the Born-Again children of God. Enter in and be blessed.

Tell the Lord you are thankful for his sacrifice and that his blood has now and forever stopped flowing for sin. Let the Word of God purge you from stinking thinking, with truth. Captives are made free with truth.

Now that you understand the truth, let’s go forward.

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Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

I find it amazing that we are able to put on the New Man identified in this scripture. This New Man is created perfect and in the exact image of Christ - in righteousness and true holiness.

Can anyone diminish God, or his finished work? NO! God’s finished work in both redemption and inheritance is eternal, meaning it never needs improvement or to be changed. It is entirely sufficient for all people for all time.

There is really only one way to diminish scripture’s truth. You do it whenever you chose to believe the lie(s) religion perpetrates on people who don’t know the word for themselves.

When someone preaches something other than what the truth of what scripture reveals, I immediately reject it, since I know the truth for myself. Amazingly, churches are full of people who could care less about what’s being taught from the pulpit. Many find it easy to sleep through the service, or feel they’ve done their religious duty by being in attendance. They might also reason that since a person has attended a seminary, or religious training of some sort, who are they to question the teacher or pastor concerning spiritual matters, or the messages they preach.

Organized religion has only one word for what I’m teaching you here – heresy. They’ll tell you that people like me are lunatics or religious fanatics. Frankly that’s exactly what they thought about Christ.

Question…
What is a religious fanatic? Isn’t it simply someone who loves Christ and the truths of scripture more than you do?

Everything I teach I can back up with the Word of God. That’s why I supply you with plenty of scriptural references for you to examine for yourselves.

God never intended for animal sacrifices to be sufficient or eliminate sin conscience, or to resolve the sin issue permanently. In time he would provide them and the world with the perfect sacrifice for that very purpose – his son. Until then, they would retain their sin conscience state – hence the need for repeated offerings –“getting their sin(s) under the blood”, one more time.

In the New Testament the blood of Christ dealt fully with those issues.

Never forget this...
Sin no longer separates the child of God from their creator. Period!

Churches hammer the sin doctrine home to their congregations, with every sermon, telling you how unworthy you are because of your sin, and say that God could never be pleased with you in such a state.

The thing that nailed Christ to the cross and kept him there until his death was his great love for you. Sin was the issue that caused separation, but his blood was the answer; restoring fellowship with the Father.

Another thing to consider…
If sin were really the issue, then the issue would always remain, because of the fallen state of mankind. That means that man would never be able to enter into the presence of God because of his fallen nature.

What about those who aren’t yet children of God? Is sin an issue for them? Should sinful condition be the focus of our approach to them?

Here’s your answer…
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

This scripture verse tells you precisely how God feels about the unsaved. He is essentially telling you that relating the goodness and love he has for his creation is what leads men/ women to repentance. Remember, love draws you to Christ, while the condemnation of sin drives you from him.

What exactly then is the Good News of the Gospel?
1) Is it: You’re a sinner bound for hell unless you repent? No! Though true, that’s not the good news of the Gospel!
2) Is it: Since you’re a sinner, God has rejected you? No! That’s not the truth or good news either! God would not have sent Christ if you were rejected by him.
3) Is it: You’ll always be separated from God because of sin. No! Sin separates you from God, but it does not separate God from you.

The only ones you’ll ever find that’ll reject you this side of heaven, are religious zealots.

Think on this…
Churches have stricter guidelines for acceptance into their denomination than God does for you to enter into fellowship with the Godhead. Isn’t there something wrong with this?

Scriptural example: Luke 18:10-14 KJV - Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.


The “too good to be true” Good News of the Gospel is that even though you were a sinner separated from God, Jesus Christ, because of his sacrificial death and shed blood, now offers you right standing with Almighty God, as a free gift, if you will simply believe and receive the truth of it by faith.

That’s what makes people truly free. John 8:36 KJV - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Let me make this abundantly clear...
If you understand the things I’ve been sharing with you, supported by the scriptural references I’ve included, then you’d realize that your “born-again” nature is now completely sin free. Your soul and body were not made new however, only your spirit. This spirit [new man] is incapable of sinning. Why, because it was sealed by God himself [the Holy Spirit] against the effects of any sin or sin conscience. Sin no longer has dominion over you. Its power has been forever broken. That is why scripture now calls you an overcomer, victorious over all things – a conqueror.

When you were converted [saved], through faith in Christ, you were separated from your sin; as stated in Psalms 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

So why is it that countless Christians continue to struggle in their walk with Christ? What’s the one fundamental problem that constantly plagues everyone claiming to be a child of God? Without a doubt, nearly 100% will tell you that it’s their constant battle with sin.

God’s people are always trying new and unusual ways to…
1) …defeat sin through their human effort.
2) …to overcome sin by attending support groups and seeing “Christian therapists”.
3) …to make themselves acceptable to God through constant repentance, fasting, church attendance.

Most believe that having a relationship with God requires most or all of these things. They believe that this is completely normal for all Christians to feel unworthy and the foundation on which they build their relationship with the Father. How sad that is.

Scripture is so plain. Can you not see it? Your sins are forgiven – past, present, and future. Acceptance by God was never based on your performance, or abilities. It is based on his grace, mercy, and love, alone. He did what he knew you could not do to restore relationship. And he was glad to do it.

He wanted to purge your sin conscience so he could have unrestricted fellowship with you; with no barriers or hindrances.

There will be a group who rise up and say that I am advocating sin, but that is not true. If you could see what God has done for you, or can grasp the truth as it is revealed in scripture and confirmed in your new man, then you’d know the goodness of God which was poured out to mankind through Christ’s suffering and death. Who would knowingly sin in the presence of such great love?

How great is God’s love towards you and me? Romans 5:8 KJV - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in right
eousness and true holiness.
Final word…
Let the love of God dominate your life. Understanding this alone would cause you to live a holier life accidentally, than you could ever hope to accomplish on purpose.