Today marks the one hundred and forty eighth Memorial Day in the USA. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It is a day of remembrance, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally established in 1868 and known as Decoration Day, it became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Memorial Day also marks the unofficial beginning of summer. Although many have mixed feeling concerning Memorial Day, let us never forget the reason why we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. They fought and died to secure the freedoms that our fore-father's also fought and died for. Without doubt, the United States of America was established as "One Nation Under God" so let us never forget those who lost their lives defending this nation.
History also shows us the greatest struggle for freedom had taken place. This was a war that was not fought against flesh and blood, but a spiritual battle fought against the one who has brought nothing but destruction upon the entire history of humanity. This foe had stolen freedom from every person born on this planet and has held them in such bondage that murder, pestilence, disease and death seems to be a way of life in which no one can escape. This foe is known by many names, which are a reflection of his nature. His name is Satan. He is the worst, cruelest and most destructive tyrannical power ever set against humanity.
Not one person from the creation of man had ever been able to fight against Satan and rise the victor. All humanity was helpless and hopeless in this world, until the greatest warrior that ever walked on this planet emerged. His name, Jesus, the Son of God. Unfortunately, there are billions of people that have not recognized the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus paid to set humanity free. Many of them have heard the story of Jesus, "For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16), but "the god of this age has
blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory
of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Before Jesus gave His life to set humanity free, He sat with His disciples and in a sense, set up a Memorial Day for all who would call upon His Name to be set free. "When the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:14-20)
The Apostle Paul tells us, "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) As we can see, believers are to participate in "Holy Communion" as a deep, intimate connection with the One, Jesus Christ, who has given humanity more freedom than any nation(s) or army(s) could possible provide.
Paul instructs us, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes." Believers are encouraged to celebrate our Memorial Day every day in remembrance of Jesus Christ and the tremendous freedom that He gave His life for. Although, Jesus had become a fallen warrior in the battle for freedom, He rose victoriously from the dead, completely liberating humanity, never to fall again. This has given hope to all, especially those who we honor on Memorial Day who have lost their lives protecting the freedoms we have in the USA. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) So, let us take time every day and give the highest honor to Jesus Christ, the One who has given all humanity the greatest of all freedoms, abundant life! PTL...
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2016
Monday, September 29, 2014
The Blood Covenant
The greatest covenant in the history of mankind was made, established and fulfilled by God Himself. It is called the New Covenant. In short, God the Word became flesh (John 1:1, 14) and we called Him Jesus. (Luke 1:31) He stepped our of eternity and into time with a purpose, "...to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28) However, in the purpose of God, covenant between Him and man required the shedding of blood. (Hebrews 9:22) We see the first covenant established at the fall of man, where an innocent animal was sacrificed to cover man nakedness. (Genesis 3:21)
Looking forward, we see a man named Abram, a man in whom God would cut covenant with. God appears to Abram and proclaims, "I Am Almighty God." (Genesis 17:1) However, before God entered into covenant with Abram, He changed his name to Abraham (a prince of God). (Genesis 17:5) He then set the conditions of the covenant, "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you." (Genesis 17:10-11)
The covenant was sealed by the blood shed in circumcision. This covenant bound Abraham and his descendants by indissoluble ties to Almighty God and it bound Almighty God to Abraham and His descendants. As covenant partners, all that was Abraham's was also God's and all that was God's would be Abraham's. Also in the Old Covenant, God gave Abraham's descendants the Mosaic Law. Within this covenant God appointed a priesthood with a High Priest. The priesthood was given the atonement offering known as The Day of Atonement. God appointed a special sacrifice through which the blood of an animal was to cover the broken law so that God could dwell in the midst of His people Israel. This occurred only once a year where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of Moses and pour the blood of a goat upon the Mercy Seat to make yearly atonement for the sins of Israel. (Leviticus 16) The word "atonement' in the Hebrew means "to cover." As it was with Abraham, so it was with Israel. As long as Israel upheld their side of the covenant, God was obligated to uphold His side. However, if Israel did not uphold the covenant, God was no longer obligated to make good. (Deuteronomy 28)
Looking back to the Abrahamic Covenant once again, we find one of the most remarkable things concerning covenant. It came by-way-of the promise of a son made by God to Abraham. Sarah, Abraham's wife who was barren would bear a child, and his name would be Isaac. However, as Isaac became older God called upon Abraham to uphold his side of the covenant. Remember, as covenant partners, all that was Abraham's was also God's and all that was God's would be Abraham's. "Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. And He said, take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
Abraham would not hold back his promised son. In obedience to God the covenant maker and keeper, Abraham took Isaac his only son, to the place that God showed him, to sacrifice him to God. As Abraham raised his knife to slay his son, "the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Genesis 22:11-12) This very act set the stage for the covenant of all covenants. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Jesus brings us a New Covenant having displaced and fulfilled the Old Testament (Hebrews 10:9). With the fulfilling of the Old Covenant, everything connected with it was set aside. As the Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of circumcision in Abraham and the blood of animals under the Mosaic Covenant, the New Covenant is sealed by the very blood of Jesus. Just as God stood behind the Old Covenant and was its surety, Jesus is the surety of the New Covenant. (Hebrews 7:25) As the covenant between God and Abraham bound Abraham and his descendants by indissoluble ties to Almighty God and Almighty God to Abraham and His descendants, the same applies to the believer today through Jesus Christ. Also as in the covenant between God and Abraham, all that was Abraham's was also God's and all that was God's would be Abraham's, the same is also true for the believer today through Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul tells us, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Almighty God has purchased the believer for Himself. Next, we also see, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:14-17) Not only has God purchased the believer, but He has adopted the believer and has made us His children and His heirs. By definition, an heir is one who inherits or is entitled to inherit the estate of another.
The following are but a few of the believers inheritance as the children of God.
Looking forward, we see a man named Abram, a man in whom God would cut covenant with. God appears to Abram and proclaims, "I Am Almighty God." (Genesis 17:1) However, before God entered into covenant with Abram, He changed his name to Abraham (a prince of God). (Genesis 17:5) He then set the conditions of the covenant, "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you." (Genesis 17:10-11)
The covenant was sealed by the blood shed in circumcision. This covenant bound Abraham and his descendants by indissoluble ties to Almighty God and it bound Almighty God to Abraham and His descendants. As covenant partners, all that was Abraham's was also God's and all that was God's would be Abraham's. Also in the Old Covenant, God gave Abraham's descendants the Mosaic Law. Within this covenant God appointed a priesthood with a High Priest. The priesthood was given the atonement offering known as The Day of Atonement. God appointed a special sacrifice through which the blood of an animal was to cover the broken law so that God could dwell in the midst of His people Israel. This occurred only once a year where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of Moses and pour the blood of a goat upon the Mercy Seat to make yearly atonement for the sins of Israel. (Leviticus 16) The word "atonement' in the Hebrew means "to cover." As it was with Abraham, so it was with Israel. As long as Israel upheld their side of the covenant, God was obligated to uphold His side. However, if Israel did not uphold the covenant, God was no longer obligated to make good. (Deuteronomy 28)
Looking back to the Abrahamic Covenant once again, we find one of the most remarkable things concerning covenant. It came by-way-of the promise of a son made by God to Abraham. Sarah, Abraham's wife who was barren would bear a child, and his name would be Isaac. However, as Isaac became older God called upon Abraham to uphold his side of the covenant. Remember, as covenant partners, all that was Abraham's was also God's and all that was God's would be Abraham's. "Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. And He said, take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
Abraham would not hold back his promised son. In obedience to God the covenant maker and keeper, Abraham took Isaac his only son, to the place that God showed him, to sacrifice him to God. As Abraham raised his knife to slay his son, "the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Genesis 22:11-12) This very act set the stage for the covenant of all covenants. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Jesus brings us a New Covenant having displaced and fulfilled the Old Testament (Hebrews 10:9). With the fulfilling of the Old Covenant, everything connected with it was set aside. As the Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of circumcision in Abraham and the blood of animals under the Mosaic Covenant, the New Covenant is sealed by the very blood of Jesus. Just as God stood behind the Old Covenant and was its surety, Jesus is the surety of the New Covenant. (Hebrews 7:25) As the covenant between God and Abraham bound Abraham and his descendants by indissoluble ties to Almighty God and Almighty God to Abraham and His descendants, the same applies to the believer today through Jesus Christ. Also as in the covenant between God and Abraham, all that was Abraham's was also God's and all that was God's would be Abraham's, the same is also true for the believer today through Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul tells us, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Almighty God has purchased the believer for Himself. Next, we also see, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:14-17) Not only has God purchased the believer, but He has adopted the believer and has made us His children and His heirs. By definition, an heir is one who inherits or is entitled to inherit the estate of another.
The following are but a few of the believers inheritance as the children of God.
- "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
- "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)
- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3)
- "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..." (2 Peter 1:3)
- "And this is the promise that He has promised us, eternal life." (1 John 2:25)
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