As Christ is, so are we in this world
Believers, see the video below for what happened when Jesus Christ the Lamb of God paid the price for our sins.
The setting is that of the temple under the Old Covenant (the law of Moses) where the sinner brought an offering to the priest to make atonement to cover each one of his sins. But according to Hebrews 10:1-2:
"The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship...5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, He said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given Me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
Jesus Christ is our one offering for sin. His sacrifice is not like that of the old system which had to be repeated again and again, with each sin and year after year yet which could not provide perfect cleansing for worshippers. His sacrifice does not last only until our next sin. In Him, we do not become unrighteous until we "confess" or do things to get right with God again. IT IS "ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER." See verses 11- of the same Hebrews 10:
11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. 13 He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified."
Believer, because of Christ's sacrifice, we are not righteous only until our next sin. God's gift of righteousness to us in Christ is an everlasting righteousness that cannot be undone by acts of sin nor earned by human effort at obedience. Romans 5:19 tells us that it is by "one Man's obedience" Christ's, that "many will be made righteous."
Many are afraid to preach the gospel (only one; only Grace) because they feel this will cause people to go on sinning sprees. Such trust human effort at obeying the law (the arm of flesh that will fail) over the grace of God of Whom it is written inTitus 2:
"He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."
Such false doctrine teachers contradict God's word which tells us that receiving God's ABUNDANCE OF GRACE and HIS GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS is how to reign over sin and death. See Romans 5:17-
"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."
This is the message of the cross. According to 1 Corinthians 1:18- "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
"Death" in Romans 5:17 above includes all of its symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, silly mistakes, lack, sickness and fast-tracked ageing and physical death. Finally the second death in hell. Christ saves from all, even from sins.
Because of wrong teaching, many believe that it is their acts of sin that bring this "death" to their doorstep and so try to obey the law to save themselves from their sins and consequently, God's wrath. But the more one tries to obey the law to get right with God, the more sin has dominion. See Romans 6:14- "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace." But many have this verse backwards. Such try to save themselves from their sins via the arm of flesh that will fail and reject Christ of whom it is written: "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Believer, let Christ love you into wholeness, save you from your sins and save you from God's wrath. See Romans 5:9- "Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from God’s wrath."
Believers, all of our law-keeping, obedience and good works cannot make any righteous or save from God's wrath. Those who choose to enter through this road that leads to destruction (many are on it today!) let sin have dominion (Romans 6:14) and let death reign over them:
"But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under His curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”" Galatians 3:10.
Because God loved us so and does not want any to perish, He gave His own Son, the Lamb of God Himself to save us from sin and death. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
At the cross there was a righteous exchange. God's Justice and Mercy met, showing us the greatest expression of love: "In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10
Believer, see a picture of God's love for us our reality in Christ today in the shadow of the old system that is the law of Moses as shown in the video. Notice one thing in the old system which is a shadow of the new:
The priest examines the LAMB and not the SINNER.
God is not looking at how good you are. He is looking at how good our Sacrificial Lamb is; the One He provided for us by Himself, Jesus Christ, of whom John the Baptist said "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Today, with Jesus Christ the Lamb of God as your "one sacrifice for sins forever," God is not examining you for your sins. Christ is our perfect atonement. God sees you as Christ is in this world, even in your imperfections. See 1 John 4:17-
"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."
If we ever forget anything, by Grace, let us remember and meditate on (speak out) these nine words:
"as He is, so are we in this world."
Not when we die but "in this world." Today. Right now. Always. Is Christ depressed? Is Christ sick? Is Christ suicidal? Is Christ worried? Is Christ barren? Is Christ lacking in any good thing? NO!!! These "symptoms of death" might be present with you now but by God's grace alone, keep on confessing the good that you want to see; the same way God saw darkness at the beginning of creation and said "Light, be!" And there was light. Just imagine what would have happened if God had said: "This place is so dark and without form!!!" The darkness would remain and there would be no creation.
Remember 2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
When you look at yourself in the mirror of your life, see not your flaws, sins and addictions but what our Heavenly Father has made you to be in Christ: Righteous. Confess "as Christ is so are we in this world" and watch the Holy Spirit transform you to the image of His glory, from glory to glory. We are transformed by looking to Jesus for Salvation, not by doing.
Salvation is not about behaviour modification by human effort aka the arm of flesh that will fail. Salvation is all about hearts' transformation. In Christ, we are not our own righteousness. The Lord is our Righteousness. In Him, we don't HAVE TO live right; we GET TO live right.
Beware of those who say "Yes you are saved by Grace but you still have to keep the law in order to get right with God, enjoy His blessing and make heaven." Such only rob you of your inheritance in Christ, because "It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith." Romans 4:13.
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us- "For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in Him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! 9 So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving."
Believers, Jesus Christ "our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time." By God's grace, stop driving to earn salvation and rest in His finished work. In Him, the thoughts of the Holy Spirit become our action.
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
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