Love For Enemies (Part 4)

Note from author: This is a continuation from “Love for Enemies”.

“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” – Hebrews 10:10 (NLT)

In continuation of the last post, in order to forgive, we need to pay attention to the state of our own mind, heart and spirit. Before we forgive, have to first receive forgiveness from God for the things we have done.

We need to remember that forgiveness is us depending on receiving new chances each time through the blood of Jesus (Hebrew 12:24).

More importantly, God doesn’t only forgive us of our sins when we confess (1 John 1:9).

God purifies our consciences from sinful deeds, which enable us to worship the living God with a love that comes from a pure heart, clear conscience and genuine faith (Hebrews 9:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:5)!

Isn’t that amazing?

Let’s go deeper into the power of forgiveness that comes from Christ’s sacrifice for you, me and even those who persecute and hurt us.

We will turn to Hebrews 10:1-10 (NLT):

“Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

I want us to pause here and think.

The animal sacrifices could never provide perfect cleansing from sin. If the animal sacrifices were enough, people would stop feeling guilty for their sins. The blood of animals could not take away sins.

Remember, that God gave the Law through Moses, on how people can worship and be forgiven. Because without shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

These sacrifices were a reminder by God for all people about how far everyone fell from God’s holiness.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NIV) says: “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”

Before God gave the Law, all of humanity was trapped in sin and brokenness. God gave the Law through Moses as a way to first set boundaries. Human wickedness was so great, that God had to provide laws teaching people that killing, stealing, and destroying is wrong. Coveting what others have is wrong. Lying to others about what your neighbor did is wrong (Leviticus 19). Honoring our parents is right before God, and helping your neighbor is right, too (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5).

The Law God gave through Moses only showed our need for forgiveness and healing that no one can do of their own power. The Law also had a weakness – it could not change people’s hearts. That’s why even though the animal sacrifices and sin offerings were required by the Law, God was not pleased with them.

That’s why prophet Isaiah declared:

“We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” – Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

So by providing the Law, God was not just showing how we are supposed to worship God and love our neighbor. It was to remind all of us that as human beings, we are created in God’s image, which means we have a responsibility to be holy, as God is holy (Leviticus 22:32; Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) says: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Therefore Christ came at the right time to take away our sins once and for all, even purifying our own consciences from evil deeds (Hebrews 9:13-14).

Let’s read Hebrews 10:5-10 (NLT):

“That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,

“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.

But you have given me a body to offer.

You were not pleased with burnt offerings

or other offerings for sin.

Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—

as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”

First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”

Amen? God was not pleased with the animal sacrifices or sin offerings, because people still felt their guilt. People were still separated from God. Even the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year to give sacrifices (Hebrews 9). So God decided to send His own Son to be the perfect offering for our sins, providing complete forgiveness once and for all time through His death and resurrection!

Now everyone has direct access to God through Jesus! (Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 4:14-16)

This is why prayer is essential to our walk with God and our spiritual growth as Christians (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Jesus, out of love for us, freely gave His life by His own choice for us (John 10:14; John 10:17-18).

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” – Romans 5:8 (NLT)

Since God’s will for us is to be made holy by Christ’s sacrifice once and for all, why don’t we ask God to help us forgive those who hurt us?

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