“How much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:14
Turning calendar pages from one year to the next cannot free us from guilt, shame and the “accuser’s voice” (Rev. 12:9-10); only Christ’s Blood can do that.
Why is it that our sins of yesterday or yesteryear, which we turned from so long ago, continue to haunt and taunt us in the recesses of our mind? Why can we not be free at last from their insidious indictments that continually wage war on our heart and mind?
It’s partly because of the devil, the prosecuting attorney of the soul, who delights in reminding us of those past transgressions, which he’s recorded in living color. After we’re born again and washed in Jesus’ Blood, he knows he can no longer spend eternity in hell with us—i.e., no longer “kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10b). So, he spends the rest of our days here on earth trying to “steal” from us (our joy, peace-of-mind, etc.) by flaunting our sins in front of us (Ps. 51:3b). And, in the process he hopes to so discourage, distress, disable, depress us, etc., that we’ll no longer be a threat to him.
That’s why, dear Pilgrim, we must base our standing with the Father on Jesus’ accomplished work on the Cross. Just as God told the Israelites “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Ex. 12:23a), so does He say the same thing today to everyone who comes to Him in faith and repentance, trusting only in Christ’s shed Blood.
How wonderful to know we’re forgiven, adopted into God’s Family and pardoned from our sins by Jesus’ Blood! How wonderful to know we have “a Place prepared for us in Heaven” when the Lord calls us Home (Jn. 14:1-3)!
But, none of these are more precious than a “conscience purged (Grk. ‘katharizo’—‘to cleanse, purify, make clean or clear, etc.’) from dead works so we can serve the living God.” Hallelujah!! No more remembrances! No more regrets! No more “looking back” and wishing we could somehow go back and undo or make it up to God! Glory!!
No, dear sinner, when Christ takes up residence in the heart through the new birth, His Blood “cleanses the conscience,” washing away the guilt and shame of sin. The Heavenly Father buries those sins “under the Blood,” hiding them from His view, as He declares “And, I’ll remember them no more” (Ps. 103:12; Jer. 31:34b).
Isn’t this wonderful, Good News, Pilgrim? Aren’t you glad that Christ’s Blood washes away any remnant or residual of past sins that hide in the corners of your conscience? Truly, His is a “thorough Cleansing” that causes you to break out even now in song: “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus! Oh, precious is that Flow, that makes me white as snow. No, other fount I know. Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” Go forth today. . .living as one “cleansed of ALL sin” (I Jn. 1:7-9). . .and tell others how they, too, can experience this wondrous estate of sins forgiven.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated January 3, 2011
