See! Made Without Hands!

It is in my heart to share about 2 things today. One is that this extended lockdown is getting on the nerves of many who have lost jobs, many who are struggling to even get their daily necessities.

Much like in the days of Noah, it seems as if there is destruction all around, while there are few who have found refuge in the ark – the cross of Jesus Christ. We hear of wars and rumors of war, there are famines and earthquakes, men rise up against his fellow countrymen and deliver them up for (unfair) judgment.

And When these rains turn into floods, it will only lift the ark, a picture of rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ – the eternal King of Kings. The signs are all in place for such an HISTORICAL EVENT to take place; when Jesus comes we will be CAUGHT UP to heaven to meet the Lord IN THE AIR!

The second thought I want to share with you is that of the Kingdom. It does not come with observation as some saying, “Here it is!” or “There it is!” for the kingdom of God is within you. It is not somewhere far, that one should say Who will ascend into heaven to bring it down or descend to the depths to bring it up. Righteousness (received as a gift), the peace of God (received as a gift) and joy in the Holy Spirit (received as a gift again) - this is the kingdom of God!

In the history, we read about this great king of Chaldean dynasty – Nebuchadnezzar, who conquered Jerusalem, killing the princes of Judah before their father and king Zedekiah, Jehoiakim’s brother; and then he put out both the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in bronze fetters and carried him away captive to Babylon, along with many of the children of Israel. Later, his captain burnt down with fire the Solomon’s temple, the King’s palace and all the houses of the entire city, (2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36). Indeed, a very cruel king!

But we also read that one night he had a dream that would shake him up so much, that he called for all the wise men in Chaldea to tell the dream as well as its interpretation. When it was pointed out to him that it is next to impossible for the wise men to say what the King saw in the dream, Nebuchadnezzar coolly took it upon himself to wipe out and kill all the wise men in Babylon. Daniel was there!

And God revealed to Daniel about the king’s dream and its interpretation. He tells the king these words: There is a God in heaven Who reveals secrets; ”You. O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out WITHOUT HANDS, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were CRUSHED together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that NO TRACE OF THEM was found. And THE STONE THAT STRUCK THE IMAGE BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN AND FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.” (Daniel 2: 31-35)

Daniel also made the interpretation, about 4 kingdoms that will come and go. The Chaldean dynasty (gold – Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar), the Mede-Persian dynasty (silver – Darius, Cyrus, Ahasuerus), the Greek dynasty (Alexander, Ptolemaic) and finally the Roman kingdom (Herod). The FIFTH kingdom was about to blast away the previous 4 kingdoms. Jesus, the King was born in Bethlehem. There was turmoil in the palace during His birth; and there was turmoil in the governor Pilate’s palace during His death and resurrection!

One of the accusations against King Jesus before His crucifixion was this: We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I WILL BUILD ANOTHER MADE WITHOUT HANDS.” (Mark 14:58).

An everlasting kingdom has been established by King Jesus. Of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be NO END. And Jesus Himself says: Upon this rock, I will build MY CHURCH and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. A kingdom made without hands – just like the stone cut away without human hands!

We ARE the Church that Jesus is building; we are the kingdom citizens (holy nation) – called out and separated out; we are the kingdom priests (royal priesthood) to declare, decree and build.

In the Old Covenant, for every male child, the sign of circumcision– a permanent mark, was given. But now in the New Covenant with the blood of Jesus, we are OF THE CIRCUMCISION who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3; see also Romans 2: 29). In Him (Jesus) you were also circumcised with a circumcision MADE WITHOUT HANDS (Colossians 2:11).

The great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The DREAM IS CERTAIN, and ITS INTERPRETATION IS SURE. (Daniel 2: 45).

The earth shall be full / filled with of the knowledge of the (glory of the) LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11: 9 and Habakkuk 2: 14). In Jesus name, Amen.

Big Points in the New Covenant

Let us first understand what is the kingdom of God. We have heard Matt. 6:33 many times over which says, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things (food, shelter and clothing) shall be added unto us. But do you know that the kingdom of God itself is not in meat and drink, but RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE and JOY in the Holy Spirit (Ron. 14: 17).

Put these verses together and you know that the central theme is His righteousness. 

Now it is expedient for me to say that this righteousness is not cultivated by social upbringing or attained by doing the right things (works of law) , but is simply received as a GIFT (Ron. 3:22 and Rom. 5:17). Once we have believed in Jesus, we have the right to receive this free gift as children of God. Why? Because Jesus is our High Priest. 

Beloved, this is the foundation of New Covenant living. He. 8:1 says that this is the Main point of whatever has been said in the previous 7 chapters: Jesus our High priest forever. He became sin and died, now ascended to the Father and seated at the right hand. As we reach out to receive what our High Priest offers, we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 

God has sworn and will not relent... Jesus our high priest FOREVER according to the order of Melchizedek (and not Levi). The author of Hebrews says that this is like double confirmation: one, it is impossible for God to lie and two, He has sworn with an oath and therefore Jesus is our surety for righteousness (Heb. 7:20-22 and 1 Cor. 1:30,31).

Remember, when Jesus spoke of His ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8-11? In this passage is mentioned three different group category - 1. the world that does not believe: 2. Believers and 3. Ruler of this (unbelieving) world-renowned devil. And the work of the Holy Spirit is different for these categories or groups: 1. to convict the world of sin (of unbelief) 2. to convince the believers of their righteousness in Christ and 3. Judge the ruler of this world. 

Jesus is our righteousness. That is His name - 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:6)- unchanging, sure, because He is undefiled, harmless and holy. That is why the New Covenant is SO MUCH better than the Old one based on our works, which is now made obsolete and is passing away. 

Hold on to His righteousness... That is the kingdom of God for you. And I have not even come to peace and joy part of the kingdom. 

But let me tell you this in closing. If the swearing of God is double confirmation, go ahead and find out for yourself what and all God has sworn for us in the New Covenant. See Isaiah 54:9,10 for instance. 

Stay blessed in Jesus. Amen. 

David and Goliath

There was a man from Gath, a trained warrior and a huge giant - Goliath by name, from the ranks of the Philistines, when they were gathered to fight Israel in the valley of Elah between them. And there was a shepherd boy - David, who withstood this giant and killed him. We read about this in 1 Sam. 17: 1-58.
Oh, how we love this "story" (actually it's a real-life event in the history of Israel), right from our Sunday-school days.
Here is David, sent by his father Jesse, to inquire about the welfare of his brothers; there were three sons of Jesse - Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah . And David was the youngest of eight brothers, a ruddy, good-looking boy (1 Sam. 17:13, 14). His father had given him ten loaves of bread, and some measure (about 16 kg) of roasted grain, and ten cheeses. But when he came to the battle field, his brothers ridiculed him; calling him proud and arrogant. Isn't that strange! This is the David of whom God testifies that he is a man after God's own heart. And his name means "Beloved".

I have come to know that there is more to this battle-event, than meets the eye.

It is Jesus who is revealed throughout! "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" is the witness of God from heaven. Jesus is the bread of life, come down from heaven, sent by the Father. He came to His own brethren - the Jews, but they rejected Him (John 1:11).  (except for a remnant of Jews who believed and received Him).

For forty days, the Philistine giant defied the armies of Israel, so much so that the people ran away from him, and were terribly afraid. It signifies the forty days of lent season, before the glorious Resurrection Sunday (Easter).

And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." (1 Sam. 17:10). Just one man! That's what he asked for. Just One Man - that's what he got. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's (Jesus') obedience many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:19)

Then David said to the Philistine "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I came to you in the name of the Lord of hosts...Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does NOT save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's..." (1 Sam. 17: 46, 47). The whole of Israel was terrified saying "Who will save us?" and here was David calmly taking his position. Jesus entered Jerusalem a few days before Passover, on a lowly donkey, and to shouts of "Hosanna, Hosanna" meaning "Save us, save us" and "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Just like David, Jesus too came in the name of the Lord. And in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus calmly posed a very similar question, "Why do you come against me with sword and clubs? (Luke 22:52)

David took 5 smooth stones; Jesus took 5 deep wounds. Just one stone, was enough to fell the giant. Just one word on the cross - "Finished" and the giant devil with the "power of death" fell. Suddenly the devil lost his powers, even as Jesus in flesh and blood died.

David did not have a weapon to slay the giant; he ran over and took the sword of Goliath, out of its sheath and cut-off the giant's head (1 Sam. 17:51). And the same is written about Jesus. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) Himself shared in the same (that is, as a Man) that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release (free) those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb. 2:14-15).

And on the third day, Jesus rose again from the dead. Freedom from fear of death - because sin is taken away, the written laws have been fulfilled and has come to an end. No more death, to those who believe in Jesus. Just rest and sleep. That is why there is NOW no fear of death, for those who believe Jesus. Both the sting and the strength that brings death is gone, because Jesus died. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. That is why we who believe in Jesus can boldly say, "O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? (1 Cor. 15: 55-56).

Because we behold Him - Jesus, who gloriously announce "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Rev. 1: 18)

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. (1 Sam. 17: 50). The sling symbolises the blood of the Lamb, and the stone-the word of Testimony. Remember this verse? "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... (Rev. 12:11). This is the heritage of believers in Jesus. We overcome the "giant" by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Another thing that struck me in this entire passage in 1 Sam. 17 was that the giant was decked in BRONZE - from head to toe, even to his shield and spear. Now bronze symbolises self-righteousness, and keeping of the law. Even "this giant" of self-righteousness must be slayed. But that is for another blog-post. Cheers!

Be blessed in Jesus. Amen.

About Grace and Hyper-Grace

Grace

Why are people so scared of grace? Almost every epistle in the New Testament starts and ends with wishes of grace to BELIEVERS in Christ Jesus. Also, is it not a habit among us Christians to gather around the table during every meal and say "Grace"?  God bless it! - for that's how it is translated.

1. And yes, the FOOD we eat becomes a blessing to us!

Grace, Grace

For example the famous verses in Zech. 4: 6, 7 goes like this:
So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.' says the LORD of hosts, 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!""

That is GRACE appearing twice in the same verse. And NIV translates it as "God bless it! God bless it!"

2. And yes, shouts of grace will bring down the mountain!

Grace, Grace, Grace

Now look at one of Paul's argument: But by the grace of God I am what I am, AND HIS GRACE TOWARD ME was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. - 1 Cor. 15:10

That is Grace, Grace and Grace appearing thrice in that one verse. And abundant labour (works, if you will) in the Lord!

3. And yes, GRACE propels us to do more for Jesus!

My question is, if given grace made Paul hyper-active (he worked more than all other apostles - 1 Cor. 15:10), should we or should we not call grace "hyper-grace"?

I had thought for quite sometime on this and that someday I'm going to write on "hyper-grace".  I believe that the word itself has been coined by a crack-pot to crack the whip on specifically those who preach grace. I later came to know that this was some brown man (or is it the quick brown fox?) with fire on his tail or some such school who had coined it; and was always ready to jump over the lazy dog of anonymity.

But before I could put pen to paper, the brown fox actually jumps over and cozies up to the grace-preacher saying that he too is a brother of Christ from Singapore; and that there were more things he agreed with him than the few he disagreed. You can read about it here.

Aww! Welcome brother Brown! Grace be to you in the name of Jesus.

Thankfully, there are several others like me who knows grace surpasses any adjectives one may use or even propose to use. Here is an example of answers given by Dr. Paul Ellis to Mr. Brown's queries on the subject. Or see this link on "Why I am hyper-grace" by Jeremy White.

The Apostles of Christ - Peter, John and Paul were effusive while describing grace. Look at some examples:

1. Manifold grace.
1 Peter 4:10 NKJV: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the MANIFOLD GRACE of God.

2. Exceeding grace
2 Corinthians 9:14 NKJV: and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.

3. Exceeding riches of His grace
Ephesians 2:7 NKJV: that in the ages to come He might show the EXCEEDING RICHES of His GRACE in His kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS.

4a. Abundance of grace Rom. 5:17 NIV: For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man (Adam), how MUCH MORE will THOSE who RECEIVE God's ABUNDANT provision of GRACE and of the GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS REIGN in LIFE through the one man, JESUS CHRIST!

4b. Exceedingly abundant grace
1 Timothy 1:14 NKJV: And the GRACE of our Lord was EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT, with faith and love which are in CHRIST JESUS.

5. Much more grace
Romans 5:15 NKJV: But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, MUCH MORE the GRACE of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, JESUS CHRIST, abounded to many.

6. Fullness of grace John 1:16 NIV: Out of His (Jesus') FULLNESS WE have ALL RECEIVED GRACE in place of GRACE already GIVEN.

If you will, you may please go through the CAPITALISED words above once more. It has been done on purpose!

And look at the most popular gospel song EVER which was written by John Newton and it starts with...Amazing grace...

The Welsh revival song of 1905 had these words: Grace and love like mighty rivers... Poured incessant from above. And heaven's peace and perfect justice - kissed a guilty world in love.

Another popular hymn which goes: "Grace, Grace- God's grace, Grace that is greater than all my sin! ... Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace - Freely bestowed on all who believe... Will you this moment His grace receive?"

How can we demean grace? How can we make it any lesser than what it is? How can we neglect the grace part-which is the greatest part in our salvation? How can a church be, where "grace" has become a word frowned-upon?

I remember the time when I was in Moscow, and we were taken to this shopping place Äashaan. It was called as "gyper-market" in Russian - literally Hyper-market. It was way bigger than the Walmart super-store I saw in Pittsburg, US. Now, if man could devise something "hyper", why can't God? Think about it! :)

And may the hyper-grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Hebrews 10:29 NKJV: Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Holiness In the New Covenant

What is holiness? I know many of the pulpit preachers equate holiness to a life of not "committing" sins - and they usually have a list of sins to prove their point. But really, is holiness (being set-apart is one meaning) anything to do with the things we... ahem "do"? Or is it that by doing "good works" one can become "holy"? Is holiness equal to sinless-ness?

No wonder people - and especially young people, are left in confusion as to what constitutes holiness, when the scripture clearly say that there is "none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 2:10); and again "all our righteousness are like filthy rags" (Is. 64:6). Who is holy then? There is also an impression given out by a certain section of people in church gatherings who sing "Holy holy holy" in charismatic circles that they (and only they) are holy. This is nothing but a religious fervour bordering on the Pharisaic attitude of "Holier than Thou" (Is. 65 5).

But the problem remains in seeing oneself "holier" than the rest and generally looking down on the so-called laity with disdain while preaching that THEY have to DO something more to become "holy". The voice thunders with emotion: Thus says the LORD God "Be holy, for I am holy."

It does not take a great revelation to see that God is Holy. And anything that is to do with holiness must start from God Himself. In fact, not even the seraphim - the four living creatures who cry out day and night, without ceasing, saying "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty..." are counted as holy (though they are doubtless sinless!).

Now, let me show you what is given to us - those who believe in Jesus Christ, in the New Covenant. A gift most precious than gold, and a status the angels can only dream about. Hebrews Chapter-1 is a comparison of the Son with the angels of heaven, and the conclusion - the Son is GREATER.

1. WHEN the Caller is Holy...
1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

If the conduct is not founded on the Caller and His calling, all your "good works" amounts to nothing. But if it is, then our conduct is holy too.

2. The Calling is holy
2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Clearly not of "our works" - but His purpose and grace-given to us in Christ Jesus.

3. The Called are holy
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

4. The Cost is holy (and so, the purchase)
Hebrews 10:9-10 NIV
Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. [10] And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

5. The Cause is holy (and so, the effect)
Romans 11:16 NKJV
For if the first-fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Jesus has become the first-fruit. And we know He is holy. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. We know Jesus is holy. Therefore, we the branches are holy.

6. The commune of Holy brethren
Hebrews 2:16, 3:1 NKJV
For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

That still leaves us with a question: How can we fulfil the mandate of God's calling of "Be holy, for I am holy" that is part of point No.1 that we discussed. The answer is given by Peter himself, just a few verses earlier:

1 Peter 1:13 NKJV
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

The more you depend on His grace (actually fully depending upon grace), the more we can have a revelation of who Jesus is and who we are in Him - holy, precious and beloved.

This is finally what we can call as the last straw in our mind-blocks in HOLINESS. If God started it, and God is in the process of completing it, who are we to judge the believers in the congregation? Haven't they all passed from condemnation to new life? (Heb. 8:1) Why is the church preaching continues to be "Repent, Repent and Repent" when we should be preaching to believers saying "You have been made holy, holy, holy by the work of Jesus Christ"?

THAT requires a real revelation - to see our brother sitting next to us in the church pews (or chairs) and saying to ourselves "Ah! That is my dear HOLY brother" or "Holy sister!"

Peter had this revelation right in the beginning of his ministry, as he was about to be called by Cornelius' servants, and Peter being a jew was unsure of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles considered as unclean and "common". We read about it in Acts 10.

Acts 10:15 NKJV
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."

And that is a warning to us, who are quick to judge others - and judge even the believers! What God has cleansed we must not call common.

Peter held on to this revelation and is bold to declare in 1 Peter 2:9 - But you ARE a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a HOLY nation, a peculiar people to show forth the praises of Him, who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

How wonderful! How marvellous! And my song shall ever be...

Salut! Holy brother. Hello, Holy sister. Praise Jesus.

1 John 3:1 NKJV
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed (lavished) on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him

Ruth and the Closer Relative

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." - Rom. 3: 19, 20

As we study the Old Testament and divide it into two main portions - Law and the Prophets, we find the three books - Judges - Joshua - Ruth sandwiched between these two main portions. Now we know that Joshua in Hebrew means "God is Salvation" - the same as JESUS in the Greek. And so we see Jesus in the centre of even the Old testament! Just as He is the centre of all creation, and centre of time - dividing B.C from A.D (Anna Domini - Years of Grace Chapter over, close the Book .. :) we will come to that later).

On the side of the Law is also Judges, if you take Joshua to be the central book of the Old Testament - showing us that if we try to come to Jesus through the Law, we will enter into Judgement. And by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight... (Rom. 3:20 and Gal 2:16).

But thank God, you can approach the heavenly Joshua from the other side, what the Prophets foretold... and from the Book of Ruth.

Now Ruth is a Moabite - a foreigner - a Gentile! Disqualified in every way according to the law of Moses. But coming back to the place of bread (Bethlehem literally means "house of bread") along with Naomi, Ruth finds the kinsman Redeemer, who is willing to redeem and marry her!

But hark! There is a problem-there is a still closer relative! He should be consulted first! (Ruth 3: 12). To see if he could perform the dutiful redemption. Will he be able to perform the duty of a close relative? Redeem her... take her?

Now who does this unnamed close relative typify?

My friends, it is the law. The Law that demands perfection, calls for excellence in performance, no failures tolerated and would be quick to judge the error. The Law that says do this, don't do that! And when it comes to redemption, do you want to know what this close relative would say?

"I cannot redeem!" (I cannot SAVE!) Ruth 4: 6

Law that takes off the sandals, saying I cannot walk that path to redemption for you. Law that boasts of not missing even the dots and crosses of the letter; and still unable to justify even one person who does it. Law that shows how wrong you are, with all the right reasons, and still unable to make the wrong right! Law that subjects every one UNDER IT to a life of bondage - bringing up the Ishmael generation and the old covenant on Mt Sinai; persecutes the children of promise - the Isaac generation and those having the promises in the new and everlasting covenant on Mount Zion (Gal. 4: 24 - 28)

Thank God for GRACE. Grace that is greater than all my sin. Grace that would pardon and cleanse within. Grace that would pour till waters in deserts flow, and scorching heat of summer turns to spring time glow. There is a Redeemer kinsman. Jesus, God's own Son. Precious Lamb of God Messiah... O for sinners slain.

Yes, Boaz would redeem Ruth, marry her. And she who had been barren and a widow brought forth a son; Ruth also became the great grandmother to the sweet psalmist of Israel and a great king - king David!

How do we find grace? Or does Grace find us? This is a question like the "Which was first? The egg or the chicken?" question. Yes, Grace found me. Yes, I found grace. So then, brethren, we are NOT children of the bondwoman but of the free. (Gal. 4: 31)

Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a friend!

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother - JESUS MESSIAH.

Christ the Rock

As I read Exodus 12:13, I understand that God passes by us and yet we are free from His righteous JUDGMENT (that would have otherwise killed us because of sin), if ONLY He sees the blood of the Lamb on the door-post. What a picture of safety and security in the life of the people Israel, as one by one of their Egyptian masters faced one of their most terrible nights when all their first-born (even first-born animals) lay dead.

There was another first-born bearing the iniquity for all the people of Israel in the symbolic blood of the Lamb - the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. And none of the children of Israel perished.

In the old covenant, the Egyptians had no choice to believe in the blood of the Lamb. But now, in the New Covenant, EVERYONE who believes in JESUS are saved from the righteous judgment of God with regard to their sins. Yes, Everyone who BELIEVES. This is the gospel of salvation, where you don't need to go up for a penance in the forest, or take a dip in some river or compensate with "good" works for the sins committed - because all these CANNOT wash away your sins. Simply believe in JESUS, and His finished work on the cross will take care of your rest (pun intended).

When we compare Jer. 9:24 and 1 Cor. 1:30, 31 we see the picture of God and Christ clearly.

"But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising loving kindness (GRACE), JUDGMENT, and RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth, for in these I delight," says the LORD. - Jer. 9:24

"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." - 1 Cor. 1:30, 31

If we compare these two verses and strike out the common "righteousness" what is left is GRACE - that can be equated to sanctification and redemption in Jesus Christ. Now what is left of the verse in Jeremiah is only JUDGMENT - which has DISAPPEARED under the New for those "...in Christ Jesus".

Yes, sister.

Those who are in Christ Jesus is SAVED from the righteous JUDGMENT of God on account of sins. The blood of the Lamb is on the door-posts ,,, and death (wages of sin) has no power to penetrate through.

That is why Moses had to placed in the cleft of the Rock, before God could pass by Him. (Exodus 33: 22, 23). THAT is a picture of Jesus - the Rock of Ages cleft for Moses. Else, Moses would have died the moment God (and His judgment) passed by him. As it is written, "...For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." - 1 Cor. 10: 4

Hallelujah! What a Saviour. Hallelujah, what a friend!

For those in Christ... these are some of the benefits (and I particularly like the word "therefore" (that's for meditation some other day)):

1. Now, therefore there is no condemnation... (Rom. 8:1)
2. Therefore, ... he is a NEW CREATION. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. (2 Cor. 5:17)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the DOUBLE cure -
Saved from WRATH and make me PURE.

You are saved from God's wrath (judgment) because YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.

Amen.