“If Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, . . . then, for all history past and all history future it is relevant because that is the very focal point for forgiveness and redemption.” – Josh McDowell
Leviticus teaches about unintentional sins – things people do that hurt or damage someone else or offend God, and they don’t even know they’d done it. When they realize their sin, they’re held responsible for making it right (Leviticus 5:17). And that meant actually taking an animal to the priest to be sacrificed to pay for the sin committed. Cumbersome. Messy. Expensive. Time-consuming. Embarrassing. Sin, even if unintentional, has terrible consequences!
Why don’t we handle guilt that way anymore? Because we don’t have to! Jesus came as the one-time-only sacrifice for the sins of the world (Hebrews 10:10b). We still hurt people or wrong them in many ways. We still offend God. But since Jesus came to die for us, we no longer have to bear our own sin. He took it all on himself on the cross. Since his resurrection that very first Easter Sunday, we simply believe that Jesus gave his life for us and confess our sinfulness to him. He forgives, cleanses, and makes us into new creatures able and willing to follow him.
What then? We worship him by giving ourselves and our bodies back to him in complete surrender to his will. “ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). He gave his body for us. We give ours to his service.
That’s why we’re thankful, why we worship, why we can live without guilt or regret. Jesus makes all things new!
” . . . if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9b
Happy Easter, Bev! I “walk together” with you every week, and always appreciate your thoughts – the blog is a blessing to me, and I feel like we are talking in person. Miss you, and hope you are doing well. Take care.
Barb Snyder
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So good to hear from you, Barb. I am happy to hear you are still following my blog! We are doing well. It is good to be near family again. I didn’t realize how much I missed the regular interaction with our kids and grandkids. I miss my Colorado friends, too, though, so I was so pleased to get your note. Have a wonderful Easter!
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It’s just that simple. The gospel message is one of forgiveness and hope. Thank goodness Jesus made the perfect, ultimate sacrifice ~ for US!!
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Agreed, Denise. Thank you for your thoughts!
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