2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold! the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
God tells Adam and Eve, in Genesis 2:17 (Amplified), "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity it you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) says, "For Adam also for his wife the Lord God made long coats (tunics) of skin and clothed them."
This is the beginning of the Law of Sin and Death, according to Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) which says, "God took the life of innocent animals, shed their blood as payment for sin (as a temporary covering) in order to fulfill that because of sin, a death had come." God instituted the Law of Sin and Death, telling Adam that "He will die if he disobeyed the Words of Life." The very day that Adam sinned and disobeyed God's instructions, Adam died or was separated from God, Who is Life. The spiritual disconnect, brought death into the spirits of Adam and Eve. They no longer had the Life of God, within them.
God killed two animals to clothe them and the blood of these animals "covered their sin." From that time on, the blood of animal sacrifice, would cover the sin of every generation, until Jesus could be brought into the world. From Adam until Jesus, God made covenant with mankind by blood. Genesis 9:4-5 (Amplified) says, "When God made the requirements for His Blessing and His covenant with Noah, He said, You shall not eat flesh with the life of it, which is it's blood. And surely for your lifeblood I will require an accounting; from every beast I will require it; and from every man (who spills another's blood) I will require a reckoning."
In Exodus 12:7,13 (Amplified) God says, "They shall take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel (above the door space) of the houses in which they shall eat (the Passover Lamb)." Verse 13 goes on, "The blood shall be for a token or sign to you upon (the doorposts of) the houses where you are (that) when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt."
The Church and the world have heard about God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. We've all heard about their putting blood on three sides of their house doors (like the sign of the cross). The death angel or destroyer, would have to pass over them because of the blood. Many think the Exodus is a grand story or movie (even in today's Church) and lack understanding of its meaning.
When sin came through Adam, death also came. The only way to rid mankind from this spiritual death, was for an innocent life to be substituted in its place. An innocent animal was sacrificed, so that the requirements of the Law of Sin and Death would be fulfilled, as a "covering" for those under the blood. The same pattern was repeated through the time of Grace in Abraham's life, until the time of Law through Moses.
Physical and spiritual death came, because of sin. We all know that people are continuing to sin in today's world. What make the new creation different from everyone else? We all know that Jesus took our sin on the cross, but many haven't understood that our sins weren't only forgiven, like in the old covenant. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) tells us, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, So that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His Goodness)."
We're not only "covered" by the temporary sacrifice of animal's blood, but the stain of sin and the penalty of the Law of Sin and Death have been met, (along with the requirements of fulfillment) in Christ Jesus. Jesus didn't cover our sin, but took it with Him in His death. Jesus paid the entire debt and abolished the Law of Sin and Death with His Blood. Jesus took our sin and death with Him to the cross, along with the penalty due to men. All who believe in Him, will not only be forgiven, but clean, in a new creation state with the Father.
The Truth of this can be found and clarified for the believer, in Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified), which says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If we understand the Spiritual power of His Blood, then we are free from condemnation, guilt, judgment, and according to Exodus 12:13 (Amplified) "No plague will come upon us to destroy us." But, if we allow the carnal mind and the dictates of the flesh to control us, then we continue to consider ourselves like the old covenant people did and we'll walk in condemnation and guilt before God.
Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death, For God has done what the Law could not do (it's power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit). Sending His Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin; God condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcome, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
We've come to the new creation family of God, that Jesus spoke to His disciples about many times. Some heard and some haven't. The same is true today concerning communion in the Church. Some churches don't allow children to receive communion, because they're not old enough to understand what it means. There are adults who don't know the true meaning of communion either. Some churches only receive communion, once or twice yearly, for differing reasons. Some Christians are afraid to receive communion, because they've sinned and might drink and eat damnation unto themselves. These foolish traditions, rituals and misunderstanding about communion, have left God's people lacking.
Mark 14:23-24 (Amplified) tells us, "[Jesus] also took a cup of the juice of the grape, when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, this is My Blood (which ratifies the new covenant, the Blood which is being poured out for and on account of many)."
Luke 22:17-20 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] took a cup and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the Kingdom of God comes. Then He took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them saying, This is My Body which is given for you, Do this in remembrance of Me."
Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 11:23-27, 28-30 (Amplified), "For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you (it was given to me personally) that the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress 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 to call Me affectionately to remembrance)." Verses 25-27 go on, "Similarly, When supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant ratified and established in My Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it to call Me affectionately to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy of Him will be guilty of profaning and sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord."
There are many, varying teachings about communion, in these last days. Paul goes on in Verses 28-30 saying, "Let a man thoroughly examine himself and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that it is Christ's Body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. That careless and unworthy participation is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite often enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death."
Receiving communion in the new covenant, is the same as in the old covenant, where we're not counting upon our goodness, but placing everything under the Blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus. It's a proclamation and declaration before God, that we're free from the Law of Sin and Death. It's also a declaration to the destroyer, that we understand the power of Jesus' Sacrifice and how by His Blood, we're no longer under the judgment or jurisdiction of the Law of Sin and Death. It's telling the destroyer that, "By the power of Jesus' Blood, satan must pass over us.
The Israelites came out of bondage and were covered by the blood of the Passover Lamb. They were also healed and made whole, because they trusted the lamb they chose and took for their homes. The Israelites obeyed what Moses said and stayed in the house, trusting in their sacrificed lamb. It was their faith in the lamb and not trust in their own goodness, that delivered the people. Psalm 105:37 (Amplified) says, "He brought Israel forth also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes."
1Corinthians 11:26 (Amplified) says, "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) speaks about the significance of the Lord's death, saying, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We must know and understand that, like in the Exodus, the Law of Sin and Death has been paid in full in Christ Jesus and no longer governs the new creation. We're under a new Law and new creation. The Law is paid, Redemption has come and satan must pass over us. Our faith is in Christ Jesus (our Passover Lamb), just like the Israelites in Exodus. Now, you can better understand my saying, "Sin in the new creation, is no longer any of satan's business." Surely, there were sinners in Egypt and as a matter of fact they were "all sinners," but their faith in the blood and their faith in what Moses had told them, was enough to "cover, heal, and deliver them." Jesus paid and fulfilled the Law of Sin and Death on behalf of all who will believe. We are delivered out of the hands of the destroyer.
This doesn't mean we're to remain in sin, according to Romans 6:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "What shall we say to all this? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's Grace, favor, and mercy may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too might habitually live and behave in newness of life."
If and when a new creation person sins, we now have an Advocate before our Father, to pray as our Intercessor and give us place in God's Throne Room of Grace, according to Hebrews 4:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "In as much as we have a Great High Priest Who has already ascended and passed through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession of faith in Him. For we do no have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin. 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-timed help, coming just when we need it)."
1John 1:9 (Amplified) tells us, "If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, True to His Own nature and Promises, and will forgive our sins, dismiss our lawlessness and continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness, everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action." This is God's business and no longer any of satan's business. We belong to the Father and we're no longer only covenant...we are family.
The Father teaches us, by the five-fold ministry, with His Word and through His Spirit. He doesn't teach His children, using sickness, disease and calamity.
No comments:
Post a Comment