📖 We need the blood

I. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).

By one offering, Jesus has perfected forever those who are sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). So, you cannot earn forgiveness by good works because you cannot erase your sins.

But Jesus, as the perfect sacrifice, offers you forgiveness based on his righteousness, not your own.

Therefore, let us hold on to the confession of our hope (which is Jesus) without wavering, since he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

Feeling the weight of your sin?

Confess your sin, because he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

And all means all. There is no sin that Jesus' blood cannot cover if you come to him.

In Hebrews 9, we are told that the holiest part of the temple could only be entered once a year, and this only by the high priest, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and the sins of the people (Hebrews 9:6-8).

But because of Jesus and his perfect, once-for-all-time sacrifice, we can now, as believers, enter the sanctuary through the blood of Christ with boldness (Hebrews 10:19). This means we now have direct access to God through Christ and can boldly pray directly to him. No mediator or intercessor is needed.

It is a lie from the enemy that says your sins mean God wants nothing to do with you. Give them to Jesus and boldly go to the Father.

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II. Your inheritance (everything God has promised you in Christ, including eternal life) cannot be taken away. What amazing news!

In 1 Peter 1:3-5, we read:

“Because of [Jesus’] great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Your salvation has nothing to do with your works or efforts, and the future inheritance that awaits you in God’s inaugurated kingdom is kept by God for you.

So often, we think we must do things (or not do things) to ensure God’s gift of grace still applies to us. And yes, our holiness matters and is very important, but it’s not what saves us.

Wrestling with doubt about God’s love for you? Remember that nothing is stronger than the power of God, and nothing can take away the inheritance that his power guards for those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ.

Reinhold Niebuhr on those who want a “cross-less” religion, one without needing the atonement of Christ:

“This is a view that insists on a God without wrath bringing men and women without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross.”

This week’s question: Is it ok to watch church at home?

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The Cloudbuster Nine by Anne R. Keene

A book focused on Ted Williams and the Cloudbuster Nine, a baseball team formed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) at the pre-flight training school for pilots during WWII.

The book was interesting in parts. I enjoyed hearing more about Navy pilots and their WWII training, the baseball history, and even the references to places around Raleigh.

Ultimately, though, the book was much too scattered for my liking. Too many people and their stories were written about, so it was hard to keep track of who was who.

The book was also too jumpy, going from talking about the Cloudbusters and Ted Williams during 1943 to other miscellaneous and (sometimes) seemingly random stories. I also felt the writing was a little cheesy at times.

There were parts that were engaging and interesting, but the choppy nature of the book and its scattered focus made it, for me, not an overall enjoyable read.

There were some good parts, but I ultimately finished the book just to finish it. If you’re into baseball history, you might like it, but if not, it wasn't that intriguing to me.

5/10

This week on Thinking Biblically, I discuss 6 Reasons Mormonism is not Christianity.

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P.S. Stay dangerous, friends…