GOD ESTABLISHED LAWS FOR COMING TO HIM, AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE.
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
1. WITHOUT HIS BODY, THERE WOULD BE NO PLACE TO HIDE.
Ephesians 5:29-30 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
2. WITHOUT THE BLOOD, THERE IS NO RECONCILIATION WITH GOD.
A. IT IS REQUIRED FOR REMISSION OF SIN. THIS INCLUDES FULL FORGIVENESS (THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST).
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The word, “remission” is found only in the NT. Why ? It was not available in the OT, where “atonement” was all that could be done. Atonement was temporary. Remission is permanent.
STRONG’S 859 ἄφεσις aphesis af’-es-is
1) release from bondage or imprisonment
2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty
3. THE PROMISES OF GOD SHOULD MOTIVATE US AND GET US EXCITED. WHAT WILL WE BE LIKE ?
–OUR BODY LIKE HIS GLORIFIED BODY.
Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
–OUR BODIES CAPABLE OF FAR MORE THAN THE BODIES WE HAVE NOW.
Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.
PREPARATION FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER:
1 Corinthians 11:28-32 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.