DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU???

By Pastor Isaac Scott 

This week we began our first lesson on the topic of salvation. We began by exploring the following questions:

1. What Does it mean to be Saved by Christ? from Sin?
2. What must I do to be saved?
3. What sacrifices did Christ make for me and what sacrifices will I have to make for Him?

REMEMBER: SINCE THE DAYS OF MOSES THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES US THAT GOD REQUIRED ANIMAL SACRIFICES TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY COVERING OF SINS. MOSES WRITES: “THEN HE SHALL REMOVE ALL ITS FAT, JUST AS THE FAT OF THE LAMB IS REMOVED FROM THE SACRIFICE OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS, AND THE PRIEST SHALL OFFER IT UP IN SMOKE ON THE ALTAR, ON THE OFFERINGS BY FIRE TO THE LORD. IN THIS WAY THE PRIEST SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM IN REGARD TO THE SIN WHICH HE HAS COMMITTED, AND HE WILL BE FORGIVEN.” (Leviticus 4:35) IT IS HERE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLOOD OF THE SACRIFICIAL OBJECT. FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD, AND I HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU ON THE ALTAR TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS; FOR IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKES ATONEMENT, BY REASON OF THE LIFE [WHICH IT REPRESENTS]. (Leviticus 17:11) HEBREWS 9:22 SAYS, "IN FACT, THE LAW REQUIRES THAT NEARLY EVERYTHING BE CLEANSED WITH BLOOD, AND WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS."

THERE BECAME A TIME WHEN MAN’S TEMPORARY ANIMAL SACRIFICES WERE FULFILLED AND THE PERMANENT SACRIFICE OF CHRIST NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR ALL OF HUMANITY TO ESTABLISH THE NEW TESTAMENT AND TABERNACLE. THE BOOK OF HEBREWS TEACHES US: “AFTER THIS WAS SET UP, THE PRIESTS WENT ABOUT THEIR DUTIES IN THE LARGE TENT. ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST ENTERED THE SMALLER, INSIDE TENT, AND THEN ONLY ONCE A YEAR, OFFERING A BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR HIS OWN SINS AND THE PEOPLE’S ACCUMULATED SINS. THIS WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WAY OF SHOWING WITH A VISIBLE PARABLE THAT AS LONG AS THE LARGE TENT STANDS, PEOPLE CAN’T JUST WALK IN ON GOD. UNDER THIS SYSTEM, THE GIFTS AND SACRIFICES CAN’T REALLY GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, CAN’T ASSUAGE THE CONSCIENCE OF THE PEOPLE, BUT ARE LIMITED TO MATTERS OF RITUAL AND BEHAVIOR. IT’S ESSENTIALLY A TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT UNTIL A COMPLETE OVERHAUL COULD BE MADE. BUT WHEN THE MESSIAH ARRIVED, HIGH PRIEST OF THE SUPERIOR THINGS OF THIS NEW COVENANT, HE BYPASSED THE OLD TENT AND ITS TRAPPINGS IN THIS CREATED WORLD AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO HEAVEN’S “TENT”—THE TRUE HOLY PLACE—ONCE AND FOR ALL. HE ALSO BYPASSED THE SACRIFICES CONSISTING OF GOAT AND CALF BLOOD, INSTEAD USING HIS OWN BLOOD AS THE PRICE TO SET US FREE ONCE AND FOR ALL.” (Hewbrews 9:6-15)

“FOR GOD SO LOVED AND DEARLY PRIZED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, SO THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES AND TRUSTS IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, (John 3:16) WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A HUGE SACRIFICE WAS MADE BY GOD AND CHRIST. GOD OFFERED UP HIS OWN SON AS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB THAT WAS HOLY IN HIS SIGHT (John 1:29) CHRIST OFFERED UP HIS OWN FLESH TO BE BEATEN AND SCOURGED. BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR WICKEDNESS [OUR SIN, OUR INJUSTICE, OUR WRONGDOING]; THE PUNISHMENT [REQUIRED] FOR OUR WELL-BEING FELL ON HIM, AND BY HIS STRIPES (WOUNDS) WE ARE HEALED. (Isaiah 53:5-7) WE MUST OPENLY ACCEPT THE SACRIFICE THAT CHRIST MADE FOR US ON THE CROSS IN ORDER TO BE SAVED SAVED!!! BECAUSE IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD [RECOGNIZING HIS POWER, AUTHORITY, AND MAJESTY AS GOD], AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR WITH THE HEART A PERSON BELIEVES [IN CHRIST AS SAVIOR] RESULTING IN HIS JUSTIFICATION [THAT IS, BEING MADE RIGHTEOUS—BEING FREED OF THE GUILT OF SIN AND MADE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD]; AND WITH THE MOUTH HE ACKNOWLEDGES AND CONFESSES [HIS FAITH OPENLY], RESULTING IN AND CONFIRMING [HIS] SALVATION. FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [WHOEVER ADHERES TO, TRUSTS IN, AND RELIES ON HIM] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [IN HIS EXPECTATIONS].” FOR THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE; FOR THE SAME LORD IS LORD OVER ALL [OF US], AND [HE IS] ABOUNDING IN RICHES (BLESSINGS) FOR ALL WHO CALL ON HIM [IN FAITH AND PRAYER]. FOR “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD[IN PRAYER] WILL BE SAVED. (Romans 10:9-13)

Please review the following scripture about you salvation.
(Isaiah 53) (John 1) (Romans 6, 10:9-13) (Gal 5:22-26) (Eph 5:1, 4:22-25) (Col 3)