DAILY DEVOTION FOR TODAY, APRIL 1, 2013
THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm 3:8
The cross of Jesus Christ is the door to new life. The cross is the entrance of the New Testament; for we have a new covenant because of the willing sacrifice of the Christ which is described in the book of Hebrews:
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
And having an high priest over the house of God;
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water"( Hebrews 10:4-23)
Yes, Christ has forever blessed us with life in the Kingdom of God. It is in the Kingdom of God that the believer in Jesus Christ has the assurance of salvation. Truly, salvation is of the Lord and we freely receive salvation through Jesus Christ making us a blessed people of God--chosen and elect. We are to draw near unto God, getting to know Him more and more. We are moving far away from the desires of the flesh and living life in and through the Spirit. We are freed from the bondage of sin and washing ourselves, daily, with the Word of God. We are escaped from Satan's traps and bearing his reproaches and persecutions joyfully.
Yes, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the one event in history that really did change everything.
Today, the blessing is upon God's people!
