Coffee With The Lord

This morning in my Bible reading I was reminded of why I am so grateful for what Jesus accomplished for me (and you) when He died for our sin on the cross!

Under the old system, described in the Old Testament, a human high priest, burdened with the same sin that we all bear, was required to offer sacrifices for sin. A single sacrifice for sin was not adequate – many sacrifices were required and had to offered repeatedly. The only authorized place for sacrifice was the designated, devoted sacred place – the tabernacle or temple. And the sacrifice had to be provided at the sinners own expense… I could go on…

Now listen to (read) these words from Hebrews and be grateful!!

“Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come! He has entered the greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. He did it with His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place ONCE FOR ALL TIME AND SECURED OUR REDEMPTION FOREVER!

“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the Living God. FOR BY THE POWER OF THE ETERNAL SPIRIT, CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF TO GOD AS A PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS… for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.“

(From Hebrews 9:11–22 New Living Translation)

Brings to mind the words of this great old hymn…

“Christ has for sin atonement made,
What a wonderful Savior!
We are redeemed! the price is paid!
What a wonderful Savior!

“I praise Him for the cleansing blood,
What a wonderful Savior!
That reconciled my soul to God;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

“He cleansed my heart from all its sin,
What a wonderful Savior!
And now He reigns and rules therein;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

“He gives me overcoming pow’r,
What a wonderful Savior!
And triumph in each trying hour;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

“To Him I’ve given all my heart,
What a wonderful Savior!
The world shall never share a part;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

Refrain:
“What a wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Jesus!
What a wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord!”

– E. A. Hoffman, 1891

What a wonderful “Sip!” …from the very words of Jesus!

“When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you! You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent! (From John 17:1–3 ESV)

With the growing popularity of YouTube videos “Do It Yourself” has become a big deal! People are trying all sorts of difficult tasks they thought they could never do before.

HOWEVER, there are some things you just can’t do for yourself (or things that aren’t advisable for you to try). These are things for which you need a qualified person … someone who is appropriately certified, someone who knows what they’re doing. For example, “do it yourself heart surgery” …NOT RECOMMENDED! And it is usually not recommended that you serve as your own attorney in difficult court cases.

When it comes to you or I standing before God as guilty sinners we need a Divinely qualified priest and advocate! Jesus is that priest and advocate according to the writer of Hebrews in your Bible! You cannot deal with your own sin! You can’t forgive yourself at the Heavenly tribunal! You can’t take the divine pen and write “ACQUITTED” (the Bible word is “justified”) over the official record of your transgressions and sin! Jesus can!! He’s qualified as our “Great High Priest” and “Advocate” (the Bible word is “Intercessor”).

“He is able to save COMPLETELY those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered Himself! For the Law appointed as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath (God’s oath), which came after the Law, appointed the Son (Jesus), who has been made perfect forever! (Hebrews 7:25–28 NIV)

I read those words in my Bible this morning and had a bit of a personal praise and thanksgiving spell!! I’M SO GRATEFUL THAT JESUS IS DIVINELY QUALIFIED TO DEAL WITH MY PAST – PRESENT – AND FUTURE FAILURES AND SIN!!