How many redeemed, blood-bought Christians out there understand why they are redeemed, blood-bought Christians?
Before writing it off as a dumb question, ask it and answer it honestly. If you cannot answer the question for yourself then how can you tell another person why they must put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ?
The apostle Peter wrote, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” — 1 Peter 3:15-16
You may say, “I have faith,” but faith in what? Do you have faith in church ritual; do you have faith in your own goodness? You may even say you have faith in Jesus Christ — which is my hope.
Even if that is your answer to the question, we must ask what is the basis of that faith in Jesus Christ? The question must be asked, because an unbeliever will want to know why they should choose Christ over Allah, Buddha or a tree in the backyard. They will want to know what makes Christ so exclusive over the other religions.
The answer is simple, but few dare to speak of it and truly get to the root of what makes Jesus different — the blood.
Beginning with the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, we begin to see a pattern through the rituals of sacrifice and offerings, with the main impetus being that sin could not be forgiven but by blood.
First, we have this picture of the sacrifice under the law, then of Christ’s perfect work in the epistle of Hebrews 9:7,11-14, “But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.”
In Hebrews 13:12 the writer tells us, “And so Jesus suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”
Now you may be saying, “That’s great, but if an unbeliever does not believe Jesus is who he said he was, and does not believe the Bible, then how can you convince them?”
First, it is not up to us to convince, only to tell, but it is in the proper telling where the Holy Spirit can go to work and do the convincing.
There are varying pictures of Christ the world continually paints. Most are unsuccessful in trying to convince people Jesus never existed; so they try and turn him into something else. This was true even in Jesus’ day when he was traveling the land doing things the world had never seen.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’
“They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
“But what about you?’ Jesus asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” — Matthew 16:13-16
This same Peter, 30 years later, again is answering questions and telling people who Jesus is and why we must put our trust in him. Thirty years of being hunted down and tortured did not blunt the disciple’s testimony.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits — to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” — 1 Peter 3:18-22
There are deep spiritual truths Peter and Paul go in great detail to tell us — even at the peril of their own lives. Time and again they strive to let us know there is nothing we can do to gain access to God.
That is what makes Christ different. Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, Shinto, Druidism and a whole host of other beliefs require work on the adherents’ part to earn their salvation. Their salvation, they suppose, is to be earned by works.
Now is where we can turn the tables. If God is perfect, how can the imperfect (human beings) work to be made perfect? Even the most beautiful of diamonds have flaws. The same is true of the living. No amount of work can wipe away the stain of sin from our lives.
Enter Christ.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” — 2 Corinthians 5:21
Herein is our hope, and the hope for those who are lost. The righteous blood shed upon the cross was and is sufficient to cover all of the greatest of sins ever committed.
Albert Barnes in his notes on the Bible wrote, “It is not improper to appeal to them by the conviction of duty; to appeal to their reason and conscience; to remind them of the claims, the power, the goodness, and the fear of the Creator; to remind them of the awful consequences of a continued hostility to God; to persuade them by the hope of heaven, and by the fear of hell… but, after all, the strongest argument, and that which is most adapted to melt the soul, is the fact that the Son of God has become incarnate for our sins, and has suffered and died in our stead. When all other appeals fail this is effectual; and this is in fact the strong argument by which the mass of those who become Christians are induced to abandon their opposition and to become reconciled to God.”
Every evil ever conceived was poured out upon Christ on the cross, every lie told in secret, every abortion, every murder, every lustful glance was placed upon Christ and that is the burden he bore — for us. Now, turn to him and be free from yours.
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If you need prayer or would like to comment Wayne can be reached by e-mail at etagnews@dctexas.net
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