The LORD whispered this blog title into my heart which had me doing a double take. How could Jesus’ blood be deceptive??? Then my attention was drawn to the YouVersion Verse of the Day. It’s not Jesus’ blood itself but rather the teaching on Jesus’ blood that has duped many of us.
Galatians 5:24 – And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
That verse follows the fruit of the flesh contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit. Now turn that verse around for a lovely sucker punch to wake you up. They that are NOT Christ’s have NOT crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Flip the sentence structure for a left hook. Those who have NOT crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts are NOT Christ’s. You awake yet? I certainly was!
Back on Dec 31st, 2018, I released a video warning that in part listed out the works of the flesh that would prohibit one from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Below is the same list, only in the Amplified version for more understandable wording. I don’t know about you, but I had to go look up the meaning of lasciviousness. I’ll bullet-point for ease of reading:
Rev 21:8 (AMP, modified into bullet points & my points added with **)
8 But as for the
– cowards
– unbelieving
– abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality]
– murderers, (**including murder with the tongue**)
– sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs]
– idolaters
– occultists [who practice and teach false religions],
– all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth],
their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Galatians 5:19-21 (AMP)
19 Now the practices of the [i]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are
– sexual immorality,
– impurity,
– sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),
– 20 idolatry,
– sorcery,
– hostility,
– strife,
– jealousy,
– fits of anger,
– disputes,
– dissensions,
– factions [that promote heresies],
– 21 envy,
– drunkenness,
– riotous behavior,
other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (**Psalms and Proverbs lists slothfulness/laziness, gluttony, oversleeping, rebellious, scorners, fools, unteachable, financial irresponsibility, addictions, rage among many specifics to “flesh” out the broad groups above, especially lack of self control.**).
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (AMP)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; [d]neither the:
– sexually immoral,
– idolaters,
– adulterers,
– effeminate [by perversion],
– ]those who participate in homosexuality,
– 10 thieves,
– greedy,
– drunkards,
– revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander],
– swindlers
will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].
Notice in this passage the amplified explanation of sanctified – set apart for God and made holy. The difference between the world and those who are Christ’s is what they do with the flesh. We are made in the image of Christ, who was the visible image of the invisible God. Are we revelling in our flesh or walking by the Spirit?
Now back to the great deception of Jesus’ blood. Matthew 4:17 (AMP) says, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We have allowed a spirit of complacency and slumber to swoon us into believing that we can have the benefits of the atonement of Jesus’ blood for free as we say our rote bedtime prayer, “Jesus forgive me of all my sin”, all the while keeping our sin well fed the very next day. “But that’s a salvation of works!” you cry.
Indeed, the gift of salvation is free, on many facets! We don’t EARN our salvation. However, most churches openly or due to a lack of reverence for God’s covenant encourage people to skip over the “hard to read” Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Many Christians today have a lack of understanding of the Law of God and the practice of temple sacrifices that Jesus’ atoning blood was based upon. Hebrews 10:28-31 (AMP) says “28 Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that [d]sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I WILL REPAY [the wrongdoer].” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].”
In the Law, when a sin was committed, the person had to first recognize they had committed a sin. Then they chose to do something about it and obtained a sacrificial animal, and as we know from Jesus chasing out the money changers in the temple, those animals weren’t free! Then they brought the sacrifice to the temple’s outer court to the brazen altar. That’s the public area within the tabernacle walls, not the inner court or holy of holies that was kept under wraps. So everyone knew who was coming to repent. They would bring their sacrificial animal to the priest, who would ensure the sacrifice was acceptable and free of defect, then hold its head and hand the knife to the sinner, who would then slay the animal. From there, the flesh would be burnt up or boiled, depending on the specific sacrificial requirements. This procedure was for EVERY single sin! Do you grasp how valuable Jesus’ FREE gift of salvation was??? A quick google search says the average lamb today costs $250 USD and adults are more expensive. And that’s just the sin offerings, not to mention all the other kinds of offerings like thanksgiving, heave, guilt, peace, etc.
There was one day of the year – the Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur) – that one sacrifice would cover all the ignorant sins of the congregants that gathered. There were two goats – one would be sacrificed and the other would be sent out to the wilderness. Jesus, the Son of our Heavenly Father, fulfilled this prophetic picture for us while Barabbas (whose name means Son of the Father) was freed and went off into the wilderness. Jesus opened the way for the sins of the Gentiles who were ignorant of God’s commandments to also receive atonement for their sins, without having to wait for the single day once a year!
Notice Jesus’ message was not “confess your sins.” It was “Repent!” Luke 5:32 (AMP) says, “32 I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness].” The purpose was not to bash us with our sin and make us feel ashamed for failing. It was because Jesus saw our potential! Jesus wanted us to live without condemnation that living by the flesh brings (Rom 8:1). It was is so that we can be great in the kingdom of heaven as per Matthew 5:19 – 19 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus told his disciples in Matt 10:7-8, “7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” I don’t know about you but I want to be fulfilling ALL 4 of those categories! God has given us a season that is growing short to get our spiritual butts in gear and get in the game so that we can be participants in advancing the Kingdom instead of being passive observers.
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