Old
math, simple, yet effective. The equation 1 + 3 = 4 can also be
considered addition as well. In its simplest form, is is nothing more
than counting. Remember counting? When you were young, your Mom or
Dad told you to hold up your hand and closed your thumb over the palm
of your hand. And, while your hand was still raised, touched each
finger and said one, two, three four.
It
may have been a bit different for you, but that’s how I remember
it. I was guided. I was taught. I learned. I saw something physically
and then applied it mentally. And, then there is that graphic above;
a combination of numbers and symbols- both saying something, but for
the symbols on the right hand side, they are far more than mere
mathematics, they are personal. Jesus was nailed to the cross and
shed his blood there and the result is forgiveness of sins. That is
as personal as it gets; suffering, blood and death. Why? Because it
was (is) necessary because of sin. The Bible says…
Blood
and sacrifice
Revelation
1 ( World English
Bible )
[4]
John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and
peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the
seven Spirits who are before his throne; [5] and from Jesus
Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the
ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed
us from our sins by his blood; [6] and he made us to
be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
That
cross, that despicable method of death was necessary because we all
have sinned. And not just what we humans would consider as major
sins, like murder, but even the “small stuff” like lying,
cheating, stealing and the like. Jesus paid the price for ALL SINS.
Yes, my sins – and I should be very, very, very grateful.
Redeemed
1
Peter 1 ( WEB )
[18]
knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things,
with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from
your fathers, [19] but with precious blood, as of a faultless
and pure lamb, the blood of Christ;
Jesus
was perfect and it took a perfect sacrifice to perfectly buy us back
from what we have done wrong. We were redeemed, that is, bought back
with a price. Ask yourself, am I worth it? I can’t answer that
question, but Jesus must have thought you were because he suffered,
bleed and died for you.
Baptized
into his death
Romans
6 ( WEB )
[1]
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may
abound? [2] May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in
it any longer? [3] Or don’t you know that all we who were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were
buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so
we also might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have become
united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of
his resurrection; [6] knowing this, that our old man was crucified
with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we
would no longer be in bondage to sin. [7] For he who has died has
been freed from sin.
So
what do we do about Jesus? Consider the rest of the story. Jesus was
buried and was resurrected the third day. Like the above passage
says- We died to sin (repented of what we have done) and were buried
(in the waters of baptism [where we contact his blood] and rise from
that old self to live a new life. In all this we say by by our
actions that we accept what Jesus has done for us and consecrate our
lives to live as he directed we should.
A
life of faithfulness
1
John 1 ( WEB )
[7]
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son,
cleanses us from all sin.
This
new life means being faithfulness to this commitment. We continue to
do everything in our power to be everything Jesus wants us to be. The
fact is, however, that no matter how hard we try to never, ever sin
again, we will. But the good news is, if we ask for forgiveness, it
will be granted. Jesus’ one sacrifice covers everything. It really
does; read 1 John 1:7 again and be happy and most of all grateful.