Recently I did some major damage to my shoulder. Several tendons and ligaments were torn and I had to have physical therapy for a few months. The therapist made an interesting statement as he massaged and manipulated the injury site: “You have to get blood to the damaged areas; it’s the only way to heal it, even if it’s painful.” The only way to put right what is broken is to force blood into those areas, no matter how difficult the task, and allow the blood to carry away the scar tissue and heal the injury.
The greatest illness, the most devastating injury to the human race, is our sinful state—being dead in our “sins” because of our “disobedience” to God (Ephesians 2:1). But sometimes even believers in Jesus fall into the trap of trying to do good things in order to feel better about our spiritual condition. The fact is, only by His blood are we set free from sin, and only by His sacrifice on the cross can we be assured continually that all of our sins are paid for (Ephesians 1:7). Certainly, He died “once for all” and that sacrifice was a one-time done deal (Hebrews 9:26-28). But we need to remind ourselves daily that forgiveness—even today for the things we continue to do wrong—was bought on the cross by Jesus’ blood (1 John 1:7,8-9). We can’t add to that price and earn forgiveness by anything we do.
In his spiritually freeing words to the Ephesians, Paul spelled out this truth. God forgives us, heals us, and repairs all the damage done by our sinfulness through His Son’s shed blood alone. Grace was extended to us through His sacrifice (Ephesians 2:8-9). We can’t earn it at the point of receiving salvation, and we can’t earn it as we continue working it out. It’s only through Jesus’ blood!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Daniel 1:1-21
More:
Read Hebrews 9:14 and consider what it means to have your conscience cleaned by Jesus’ sacrifice for you!
Next:
Do you ever try to earn points with God? How can you begin living in and enjoying the freedom found in resting in the finished work of the cross?
Gary Shultz on May 28, 2016 at 4:06 am
Wow, sorry you blew out your shoulder Russell. The picture really threw me off; however, I can only imagine how you did it….It is true “the life is in the blood” from the first sacrifice for Adam and Eve to Christ, blood has been the witness of life and the ending of it. I think we marginalize the cost of being sinners; it cost life, blood was the spilling witness of that cost. For me, I’m glad a blood completeness process was planned; however, at a cost higher then we can perceive. Gluing ourselves to Christ, allows us to take part in the final sacrifice, to open the gifts bought for us. I think that is the only we get points too, using Christ’s debit card…. I hope you are being a good lad and listening to the medical staff. Thanks Russell.
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 9:25 am
Wow, that must really be painful Russell, I am so sorry to hear that. I know there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, it is a gift from God. It is only by His grace we are saved through the resurrection of Christ Jesus. When Jesus died and was buried, our sins were buried with Him, then when He arose, we have new life in Him because we were resurrected with Him. That is what being born again means. If we truly love Him, we obey Him. Obedience is an outward expression of our love for Him. No matter what we do, we can never earn our salvation.
gagirllive on May 28, 2016 at 10:16 am
Sorry to hear of your troubles, Russell, but thankful for the good that’s come from it—this great devo! 🙂 I love it when God gives us eyes to see spiritual lessons from the natural. Well, this is certainly a subject that we must never get away from. Sometimes I feel that Christians move away from the core understanding of the gospel. It is as though we fail to see that all of life should be gospel-centered. It was the blood of Jesus that saved us and it is the blood of Jesus that keeps us from day to day. You make a great point about how even Christians fall prey to trying to earn God’s approval. It took me a long time to really understand grace and righteousness. As a young believer, I felt like I had to do penance whenever I sinned. On the one hand, I knew that Christ had forgiven me, but I also held on to feelings of guilt and felt the need to stay in that frame of mind as a self-punishment. Christ’s blood bought me freedom, but I was still living imprisoned by my own choice. So grateful the Lord worked patiently with me and taught me that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. It feels good to be free! Thanks, Russell. Hope you’re all better now!
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 10:57 am
I went through the same thing when I was younger gagirl. I also like the way he incorporated it into this awesome devotion. I know for me when I was younger, every time I did something wrong and sinned, it made me feel so guilty, and I kept thinking there has to be a way I can make it up to God, but there isn’t. His Grace covered a multitude of my sins. As I grew older and maybe not so much wiser, but closer to God, I began to accept that His Grace was absolutely free, and even though I memorized all the verses about this, it sunk in later. I really knew what the verses meant. Praise God that He gave us His son to take the rap for us!! To God be the Glory forever and ever!! Amen!!
gagirllive on May 28, 2016 at 11:00 am
Amen, Sandy. Grace covers it all! Sometimes it takes a while for that to sink in!
gagirllive on May 28, 2016 at 11:06 am
Ok…where are you elegantstarr1? 🙂 We need our hymn for this devo…”There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel ‘s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stain.”
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 2:50 pm
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
I’ll sing Thy power to save,I’ll sing Thy power to save,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.
gagirllive on May 28, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Thank you for these lyrics, Sandy! This wonderful hymn has been on constant loop in my head since I read today’s devotional this morning. I grew up on these kind of hymns, and I praise God that they are still in my heart and mind. It’s sad that they are not sung as much as they used to be back in the day. And it’s downright scary that many churches don’t even preach about the blood! How can it be overlooked?! Lord, help us.
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Yes without the blood there remains no sacrifice for our sins
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 9:09 pm
You’re welcome gagirl. I didn’t know if elegantstarr1 would see this, so I took it upon myself to get the lyrics for you. I love the old music but I also really like the Maranatha music and some others, in fact I think I love all Christian music…..it’s just music to my ears.
gagirllive on May 28, 2016 at 9:24 pm
Yes…I love all styles of Christian music, too. There’s just something richer about the hymns though. It’s like singing the Word…so much doctrine in them. It’s all good though if it lifts up Jesus!
jim spillane on May 28, 2016 at 11:39 am
Gagirllive and Sandy229 – one of my favorite and often-used lines is that “we are the product of our environment.” In your comments today, you both used the word “grace.” For me, this is one of the most difficult things for me to apply to my situation of being a child of God. It is the antithesis of what my parents and the secular world has taught me thru my formative years. When I was growing up and disobeyed my parents, there was a price to be paid (by me) in order to make things right again. I was taught that as a member of society the rule was “if you commit the crime, you must do the time” and then all will be forgiven (hopefully). But what the Bible teaches is completely different. It’s that wonderful word “grace” which I am still learning to accept and apply to my spiritual life. Being “the product” that I am, it is sometimes a challenge to just accept the amazing concept of grace that is so liberally and lovingly given by our forgiving Father. Blessings to all who visit this forum today and thanx Russell for your devotional and the comments it inspired.
gagirllive on May 28, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Really appreciate you sharing this, Jim. You are certainly not unique in your experience. I think all of us who have trusted Christ have to embrace grace as something that is totally foreign to us. Growing up in even the healthiest of homes still leaves this concept an enigma to us. From the moment we come into this world we quickly learn that everything is performance-based. Grace is totally counter-culture to our thinking and our experience. We have to unlearn so much as we renew our minds in the Truth. The Bible clearly tells us to “grow in grace”. Until Jesus calls me home, I’m sure that, like you, I will continue to be amazed by this gift and will choose to embrace it for all its worth…which is everything! Grace and peace to you, Jim.
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 2:10 pm
My sister always taught me that Grace means
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
hsnpoor on May 28, 2016 at 6:49 pm
Good one!
sandy229 on May 28, 2016 at 10:41 pm
Yes that’s very true. I listen to different types of Christian music but sometimes I just wanna here the old hymns…..there is something about them that really warms my heart for Jesus. So I know what you mean.