The Blood is Enough

 

This is a powerful and liberating teaching that we must understand in order to experience true freedom from guilt and shame of our past. It is absolutely essential for us to realize the forgiving power of the Blood of Jesus! Nothing we can do will ever add to or take away from the work that Christ did on the cross. As the song sings, "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!"

I think one of the reasons why it is so hard to grasp the true forgiving power of Christ's shed blood is because it just seems too good to be true. Wouldn't you agree? But God's Word is true, and it even tells us that through Christ, we have exceedingly great and precious promises:

2 Peter 1:4, "Whereby are given unto us EXCEEDING GREAT and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

The word precious in the above verse refers to the Greek word timios, which actually means valuable or costly! These promises that God has given us, cost Jesus dearly... He paid a steep price for our redemption, healing and deliverance!

I believe the Holy Spirit has showed me that if you have to do something to receive forgiveness of your sins, then you will always wonder if you've done enough! Look at this passage in scripture:

Galatians 3:11, "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Knowing that your conscience is clean is very important. A while back, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "You need to KNOW that you are clean... your faith depends upon it!"

The Blood of Jesus was shed to not only forgive, but to remove sin!

In the Old Testament, the priests would sacrifice lambs, goats, etc. to cover the people's sins. However, this sacrifice was not significant to remove the stain of sin. But since Christ shed His blood, our sin can be REMOVED from our account! In Hebrews 10, it paints us this picture very clearly.

Hebrews 10:1-22, "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? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Jesus tells us in Matthew 26 that His blood is shed for many for the remission of sins. The word remission here is referring to the Greek word aphesis which means:

"Forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty."

With that said, read this verse to yourself and meditate (that is to soak in) it's meaning!

Matthew 26:28, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

John the Baptist also confirmed this when He said that Jesus, the Lamb of God, taketh away the sin... not just cover... but taketh away!

John 1:29, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

How do we receive this forgiveness?

First, we need to understand that the forgiveness of our sins is considered a GIFT... this means that we cannot deserve it or earn it in any way, but we must receive this gift.

Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

We are told that through faith in Christ Jesus, we can obtain forgiveness of our sins through the blood that He shed for us:

Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

John 3:15, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Romans 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

Galatians 3:11, "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:24, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

As you can see through the verses above, it is through faith in Christ Jesus that we are made right with God. The Bible even goes on to show that if we try to make ourselves righteous by our own works, then we are missing the whole point, and therefore we are not truly accepting the work that Christ did as significant!

Galatians 5:1,4, "So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law... For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace." (NLT)

What it means to be justified

Justified is another powerful word used in the Bible to describe the forgiveness of our sins and restoration of our relationship with God. This brings us to one of my favorite verses in the Bible!

Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

If we take the word justified in this verse, and look it up... we are given the Greek word dikaioo, which means, "to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous." When a person is justified, it makes them innocent... just as if they have never sinned! That my friend, is exceedingly great news for us! This is the very reason that we can live a new life in Christ, is because when we have repented of our sins, we are made right with God and have the righteousness of God upon us! Righteousness of God is upon us? That's right! Look at this...

Romans 3:22, "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..."

This is often referred to as part of the divine exchange. Christ was punished for our sins, so that we can receive forgiveness, He was given our shame so that we can receive His righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Our life in Christ (the exchanged life)

Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

After we repent (confess and turn from) our sins, and believe upon Jesus Christ and the work that He has done for us on the cross, our life is in Christ and we are identified with Him and His righteousness, thereby setting us free from guilt and condemnation. For the scriptures say that those who are in Christ Jesus, are dead to sin and there is no condemnation awaiting them:

Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

In Roman's chapter 6, we learn that our old self was crucified with Christ and buried with Him, and we are raised to new life in Christ Jesus:

Romans 6:3-6, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

When we are raised to new life, also known as the born again experience (see John 3), we are also considered a new person; old things having passed away and all things became new:

2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

True repentance is to "Go and sin no more"

Luke 13:3, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

In the above verse, the word "repent" goes back to the Greek word metanoeo, which means, "to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction)." To repent of a sin is not simply to confess it as sin, but to actually turn from it and change your mind about it.

John 8:11, "She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

In Ephesians, those who have stolen are told to go and steal no more:

Ephesians 4:28, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

What about restitution?

First off, let me say that if we had to go back and make right every wrong we've ever committed, that would lay an unbearable (if not impossible) burden on countless people who have lived a worldly lifestyle for many years... and this is certainly not the burden that Jesus laid on those who's sins were forgiven in the New Testament. Jesus said that those who are laboring under heavy burden (remember, Jesus wasn't speaking of a physical burden here, but a spiritual or soulish burden - I believe this is clearly referring to guilt), are to come to Him where they will find rest...

Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

If a 60 year old man comes to Jesus after a very sinful life, how could he possibly rest if there was no way that he could ever undo all the evil he had done throughout his lifetime? But yet, Jesus made it clear that if those who are heavy laden come to Him, He will give them rest.

Let us take a look at a few examples of sinners who were forgiven their sins.

Jesus told of a tax collector (notorious for stealing and being unfair to others) who was justified at the temple...

Luke 18:10-14, "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 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. 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."

In the above verse, the Greek root word for justified means to be just as if you've never sinned!

Another example of this is found in Luke 3, when crooked tax collectors approached John the Baptist and asked what they should do:

Luke 3:12-13, "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact [which means collect] no more than that which is appointed you."

This all lines up with what Paul says in Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:28, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

When we first meet Paul his hands are dripping with the blood of Christians. He went about killing fathers, husbands, children, etc. Did he ever go back to apologize to the victim's families? Paul never went to anybody (that we know of) to make any wrongs right, but rather repented of his old ways, turned to God and moved forward with the gospel. If you think about it, every husband/father he killed, caused a home to lose their breadwinner... so he likely caused financial problems for many Christian homes. Paul never went back and repaid for all the losses he caused when he was persecuting the Christians.

Some of the disciples were fishermen, and in those days, fishermen were usually among the lower class and unfair in their business practices. If it were important for them to make their wrongs right, don't you think that Jesus would have instructed them to go back and make those wrongs right before coming to follow Him? But rather, He merely told them to repent and come follow Him!

Matthew 4:19, "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The woman caught in the very act of adultery (see John 8:3-11) was forgiven free and clear without having to go back to the injured wives, and apologize for what she had done. She was set free and clear with no strings attached! According to the OT law, a woman who lived this lifestyle was to be put to death!!

Another women in Luke 7 was said to have lived a very sinful lifestyle, yet she was also forgiven in one sweep and was never told to go back and make any wrongs right. I'm sure that anybody who has lived a sinful lifestyle has likely stolen or cheated others at some time or another during her life.

Luke 7:47-48, "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven."

In Matthew 9, Jesus forgave a man of all his sins, and gave no further instruction to make wrongs right...

Matthew 9:2, "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

It is not preached to repent and seek forgiveness from all the people who we have ever wronged... but rather to repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus and the work that He did on the cross for the remission of our sins:

Mark 1:15, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Restitution because of love

Though we aren't commanded to make all of our wrongs right with those we have wronged, we are commanded to love one another. I believe that there are times when the love of Christ working through you, will convict you to return something you may have stolen, or go ask somebody for their forgiveness, simply because it is fulfilling Jesus' command to love.

Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

I belive the story of Zacchaeus is a good example of a person wilfully -out of the love of their heart- doing something to restore where they have wronged. Jesus never told him to repay anything, but Zacchaeus wanted to repay 4 times what he stole:

Luke 19:8-9, "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."

My friend, when we realize how precious and costly that the gift of God is, it will change the way we think, the way we live and will empower us to live a new and transformed life in Christ! It should motivate us to walk in love, as we are loved, and do unto others as Jesus has done for us. Once we realize the love of God for us, it should prompt us to treat others as we would like to be treated!

Romans 13:8, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Reconciliation because of love

Now I do believe that there are times when it is important to do what we can to mend broken relationships. The Bible tells us to be at peace with all men whenever possible (see Romans 12:18). If we have wronged our brother, and refuse to be reconciled with him, then turn around and expect God to honor our worship, I believe we are only fooling ourselves. We cannot expect to have a close relationship with God, and yet neglect our relationships with other fellow believers.

Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

The Bible is clear that if we love God, we will also love our brethren as well:

1 John 4:21, "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

1 John 1:7, "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."

Your goal should never be to rush into the room, yell, "I'm sorry!" and run away; your goal is to be reconciled with that person as a result of your love for them. Now if you go to somebody, and they are not willing to forgive or be reconciled, then the responsibility is off your shoulders. Don't hold it against yourself if you were unable to restore the relationship. It takes two people to be reconciled and you cannot force that other person to forgive.

I want to make it clear that this does not mean we have to go back to every person we've ever wronged and apologize (that would be legalism), nor does it mean that we should live at peace with others even if it causes us to compromise with their lifestyle. Jesus was not afraid to make enemies if they were out of line and doing what was wrong. The goal here is that if somebody was wounded by your wrongdoing, then your goal is to love them as Christ loved you, and that may mean going to them and attempting to restore the broken relationship.

We are entitled to a clean conscience!

Because of the costly work that Christ did for us on the cross, we can be forgiven of our sins, and the stain of guilt removed. So much so, that God's Word states clearly that we can enter the throne room with boldness because our sins are removed from our account!

Hebrews 10:2,19,22, "...The worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins... Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus... Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

This is powerful my friend... VERY powerful! This means that because of the work that Jesus did for us on the cross, you and I are entitled to a GUILT FREE conscience!!

Colossians 1:22-23, "...he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it." (NLT)