Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) speaks of the birth of Jesus. The Holy Spirit declares in this passage of scripture that Jesus is to be the Prince of Peace. This was a declaration by God setting Himself in a position of peace with mankind through the sacrifice of His Son and His Own Blood.
The problem of this covenant wasn't that the sacrifice wasn't perfect, but that the conscience of men won't allow the Blood to cleanse as it is supposed to. Under the old covenant, the blood of bulls and goats would allow God to overlook the sins of the people , but they still remained in the outer court of the tabernacle.
Hebrews 9:8-9 (Amplified) says that, "By this, the Holy Spirit points out the way into the (true Holy) of Hollies is not yet thrown open as long as the former (the outer portion of the)tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing, seeing that that first (outer portion of the) tabernacle (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age) in it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper."
Only by allowing (by faith in His grace) can the conscience of the worshiper be clean in his own life. The Blood has perfectly cleansed the worshiper, but because we won't permit the Blood in our own minds to cleanse our conscience, we remain in the outer courts of worship. Only by having faith in the Blood's ability to cleanse us of all our sins can we feel that we have access into His presence.
Hebrews 9:14 (Amplified) says, "How much surely shall the Blood of Christ, Who by virtue of (His) eternal Spirit (His Own pre-existent Divine personality) has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the (ever) living God?"
When we offer worship or gifts unto God in a spirit of condemnation, we remain in the outer courts of worship. It's difficult to think about standing in the presence o f a Holy God and not feel condemned by our own remembrance of who we were or even who we are. This must be done only by faith in the Blood of His Son to cleanse us from all things. When we read Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified), we realize that this grace is help when we need it. This grace cleanses the conscience and allow the innerman (the new creation) the liberty to worship God freely.
Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well times help coming just when we need it)." When would we ever need grace and unmerited favor more than when we want to approach the Almighty God and His throne of grace? This is the throne of grace to us sinners. We knew we were sinners, we knew we didn't deserve what Jesus has done and for most of us, we still remember where we have been. Only faith in His Blood will qualify us to be there. When we understand this, we have to believe that the Blood has done such a perfect job that it will make you forget who you are and remember Who He Is.
Only then, can you stand in His presence with a clear conscience. It seems like we selfishly and ignorantly think more on ourselves than on Him. We must get ourselves off our minds and get our minds on Jesus. It's not about how bad you were (or are), but it's about how good He is. It's not about how dirty you may have been, but about how pure His Blood has made you.
This Prince of Peace has declared a blood covenant of peace between Him and His Father. It's forever established in the heart of God and cannot be broken. Isaiah 53:5 (Amplified) says, "But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole."
Did you notice how the peace offering was accepted before healing came? I believe that because we still have dis-ease in our spirit, we must manifest disease in our bodies. Once we allow this peace to flow freely from our spirit and allow it to cleanse our conscience, then it will begin to produce healing in our bodies as well.
As long as we are at war in our unrenewed minds, we can't walk in peace with ourselves and cannot walk (or dwell) in His presence by faith. This sacrifice was the door for God to bring His children back into perfect reconciliation with Him. If God, Who we have sinned against, can pay such a price to forgive us, then how can we reject it and hold ourselves accountable? This discredits the power of the sacrifice and dishonors God.
I know that your mind will fight against you on this, but we are to cast down imaginations. 2Corinthians 10:5 (Amplified) says, "(In as much as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Bring your thoughts into His obedience and not yours. Center in on the true knowledge of God and His Word and not your own thoughts of how God feels about you. According to what was said in Isaiah 53:5 (Amplified), all the chastisement needed for us to obtain peace and well being with God was placed onto our Prince of Peace.
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