The Power of the Blood

This brokenness we see all around us, is not how the world was originally created.

This brokenness is rooted in a choice of disobedience we made long ago. The choice—to trust Our Creator’s Word or go our own way? Given a choice, the gift of free will—because can it be true obedience if we aren’t given a choice? Selah (pause).

We chose our own way - “Did God really say?” (Gen. 3:1) Created for unrestricted communion with our Father, we found ourselves naked. “But who told you that you were naked? Have you done what I commanded you not to?” (v. 11) Keeper of Your Word, O Lord; most steadfast to Your character—in the garden, we stood ashamed, guilty, and facing eternal separation from the One who created us.

Where are you, O traveler? Are you hiding, too? Omniscient is our Lord—don’t be afraid, for He already knows it all. Just simply turn around. He’s been there all along.

But that’s not where it ends.

2000 years ago, our God, a gracious and never ending well of mercy, sent Jesus as a sacrifice for our brokenness, our sin. His one and only Son—a spotless, blameless lamb as the One who would cancel our debt forever.

So because Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, we live! His death is our death. His resurrection is our resurrection. In Christ, we are made new. And this “new you” is the real you! Because Christ is our identity, God sees Jesus when he looks at us. How powerful! Selah (pause).

Our old self is slowly dying away. This “new you” is all our Adonai, God Almighty, sees! He remembers not your past, and because of this, our accuser loses his power—alas, he’s accusing the old you!

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

Oh how we must grasp this! The Apostle Paul reached the end of his earthly journey and documents his deepest desire,

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Philippians 3:10 (NIV)

Paul knew what it was like to walk life without the power of Christ. He remembered his old self and ceased not to forget the transformation that occurred when his old self was dethroned and crossed out on the cross (Galatians 2:20).

As we celebrate this Easter, may we not forget to remember where we stood before the resurrection.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ was not raised, your faith is futile and you’re still dead in your sins.” In other words—without the resurrection of Jesus, our Christian faith is pointless! Without the resurrection, we have hope in this life only, and we are most to be pitied (15:19). May we shout a praise where we are invited to stand now! We stand alive and free! Forgiven! Redeemed!

Our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered death once and for all.

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