1 Peter 1:18~21
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Mankind committed sin and would have had to perish along with the devil (Revelation 20:10, Matthew 25:41). Man was tempted by the devil to sin and therefore faced death. When man’s body dies he will go to hell and suffer unbearable pain in its fire forever and ever. But the Son of God, Jesus Christ, took on flesh in order to save us. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14). “... but the world did not recognize him.” (John 1:9-10). Jesus Christ came to the world he had created but it didn’t know him and didn’t want anything to do with him. Jesus was nailed to the cross and died in order to pay back the wages of our sin. He gave his own life in order to atone for our punishment of death and hell, and for us to be able to live forever. He gave his own flesh and blood for us to be saved (John 6:53~57). He did this because of his amazing love. Even though Jesus had done this, those who do not believe this and who don’t repent have nothing to do with him. Therefore, no matter how great the power of Jesus’ blood is to remove our sins, unless we believe this and repent of our sin, we have nothing to do with him (Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:38~41). When we repent and rely on his grace He saves us from sin, death and hell. Then we can surely go to heaven and live there forever (Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:38-41). When we repent, Jesus’ blood removes all our suffering due to our sin both body and soul. And when we receive his forgiveness we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the evidence and we become holy. Only the blood of Jesus can forgive our sin. If we do not repent by the atoning blood of Jesus, we cannot meet God because the righteous God cannot be with sinful man. There is no harmony between the two. Those who are not in harmony with God cannot serve, praise, give thanks, evangelize, be faithful, be obedient, nor receive the answers to their prayers. Those who do not have Jesus’ blood will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven because they have no relation to God. In the Old Testament the Israelites slaughtered sheep in order to atone for their sin with the blood of the sheep. But how much greater is the power of Jesus’ blood than that of sheep! Only Jesus' blood can destroy the sin which caused us to be disharmonized with God (Exodus 12:13~14, Hebrews 9:22). Only Jesus’ blood can atone for the eternal suffering we had to experience in hell. Let us be filled with God’s power to serve, give thanks, evangelize, praise and to receive the answers to our prayers. Even if we possess all the glory of the world, unless we repent of our sin and have Jesus' blood in us, we are really hopeless. Our greatest inheritance is only the blood of Jesus. Only Jesus’ blood is the key for us to close the door of suffering and hell and to open the door to eternal joy and peace. We are greatly indebted to Jesus for his blood, so let’s give the greatest thanksgiving to him. Let’s thank him and thank him. Amen, hallelujah.
