COVERED UP OR COVERING?

In the Old Testament, the blood of animals offered as the antidote for sin covered the sin that had been committed. Trying to keep all the regulations of the Law resulted in a sense of futility as the Law couldn't change a person's heart nor give the adherent a new nature. The Law was given to show what real life is meant to be and how human beings are utterly incapable to saving themselves by keeping rules and regulations. The Law was given to drive humanity toward the Grace of God that was surely coming in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:11-14 "Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest (Jesus Christ) offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy."

Where the blood of Jesus Christ is applied by grace through faith, believing what God has done in the Lord Jesus for us, sin is not merely covered up ceremonially, it is removed from us as far as the east is from the west. The Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world is risen from the dead to implement His own promises and He ever lives to make intercession for us. Our sin debt has been paid by God the Son to redeem and rescue us...we who could never save ourselves.

Hebrews 9:13-15 "Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why He is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant."

We will always fail miserably when we try and cover up our sins and mistakes by human effort and human initiative. Only God can forgive and take away sin, transforming our lives. When Jesus declared from the cross, "It is finished!" the word He used translated in the Greek New Testament Gospels is "tetelestai" means "paid in full". AND, because Jesus died once for all time and all humanity, there is no more need for any other sacrifice.

Colossians 2:11-12 "When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead."

God has given us a new life, a new heart, a new spirit, a new nature, a new spiritual heritage and DNA. The Holy Spirit would not live out the Life of Jesus Christ in us had God not dealt with our sin, not in part, but the whole. Sin has been fully paid for. God makes us holy and then by the power of the Holy Spirit, that holiness is woven into the whole fabric of our lives as we believe. The question is now, "Will you believe God and so be cleansed from sin and born again as a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 9:24-28 "For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And He did not enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, He has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by His own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him."

But now, once for all time, He has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by His own death as a sacrifice. I must accept and surrender to the truth that my salvation, from beginning to end, is a work of God, not human striving. He empowers us to follow, to hear, to see what He is doing by the Holy Spirit that we might cooperate with Him is the mission of making the Good News known to all God has placed in our sphere of influence.

Will you believe God and what He has done? Will you turn from any and all other effort and receive what Jesus has accomplished for you personally? Let Him wash away your sin, heal your brokenness, give you eternal Life, make His home IN you, anoint you, soaking you in the Holy Spirit's Presence and Power for living. 

Trying to cover up is exhausting and futile. Being covered by the Blood of the Lamb brings peace, hope, purpose and meaning for life.