PROCLAIMING THE VICTORY
What does God expect of us once we are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus? Are we obligated in any way by this sprinkling? Yes, we certainly are! If we have been sprinkled by the blood of Jesus, we are commanded to do two things:
1. We are to go in peace and not doubt anymore.
When Moses sprinkled blood on the sinning Israelites, they never once doubted that they were pardoned and accepted by God. They trusted in that sprinkling.
Today, the blood sprinkled on us is not that of bulls, goats or sheep but of Christ, the Lamb of God. And yet we have more doubt, more fear than those Israelites.
Martin Luther said it is blasphemy to take back to ourselves all the sins that were laid on Christ and I agree with him. It is absolute sacrilege to go about in fear, guilt and condemnation. We are not to say, "The Bible says that by faith I am cleansed, justified and protected from Satan's power, yet I cannot believe such a glorious thing is possible."
2. We are to praise God with a thankful heart — never doubting.
We are commanded to thank God for the precious blood of Jesus, with high praises:
1. We are to go in peace and not doubt anymore.
When Moses sprinkled blood on the sinning Israelites, they never once doubted that they were pardoned and accepted by God. They trusted in that sprinkling.
Today, the blood sprinkled on us is not that of bulls, goats or sheep but of Christ, the Lamb of God. And yet we have more doubt, more fear than those Israelites.
Martin Luther said it is blasphemy to take back to ourselves all the sins that were laid on Christ and I agree with him. It is absolute sacrilege to go about in fear, guilt and condemnation. We are not to say, "The Bible says that by faith I am cleansed, justified and protected from Satan's power, yet I cannot believe such a glorious thing is possible."
2. We are to praise God with a thankful heart — never doubting.
We are commanded to thank God for the precious blood of Jesus, with high praises:
- "We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11).
- "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart" (Psalm 32:11).
- "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound" (Psalm 89:15).
- "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).