THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
1 John 1:6-10 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Working in our prison ministry at church, I am not sure how many times, (too many to count or remember), someone has said to me; “but Bro. Lawrence, you don’t know all the things I have done, the places I have been”. This normally comes up after the service or during the invitation when a man or woman knows they need forgiveness. The Holy Spirit has shown them their need of salvation, they just don’t’ understand how Jesus could forgive them and love them, after all the sin they have been involved in. What an honor and blessing it is, when I can look them square in the eyes with every ounce of my being and say “my Jesus loves you”! They just don’t know my Jesus, it is then, just like everyone else that has ever came to the cross, we kneel and they lay ALL THEIR SIN at the foot of the cross! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, Jesus has never turned one of them away when I came to HIM to introduce them! HE always welcomes them with open arms! I want to share this illustration with you which paints a beautiful picture of God’s Grace, and the power in the Blood of Jesus Christ.
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of the Holy Spirit at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs and prostitution. But, the change in her life was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see about one half of the church did not think that a woman with such a past as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting as the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his young wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this, “my finance’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the Blood of Jesus Christ to wash away sin. Today you have put the Blood of Jesus Christ on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?’”
My Christian friend, if Jesus’ Blood cannot wash away the vilest of sin, then it cannot wash away your sin. If HIS Blood has not power to cleanse us from every sinful stain then we are without hope in this world. God’s forgiveness is not selective, it is never partial and it is not temporary, it is full and it is free! HIS saving power is to the uttermost and the gutter most! There still remains full forgiveness of sin and a cleansing of all unrighteousness for the soul that has been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. “Who shall lay anything to the charge against God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33) There is no person that God has given the right to walk into the presence of holiness and bring before HIM the sins of one of HIS children! If God justifies, who can condemn?
No one, absolutely no one has the right to bring up the past of another! If and when we do, we are challenging the very cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus Christ. “If God be for us, who can be against us”? (Romans 8:31) If you are HIS child, it matters not what your past is, it’s been taken care of, it’s as if it has never happened. To secure your eternity, God has forgiven your past and to accomplish things in your future, The Holy Spirit is working now in your present.
“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
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