“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
In order to understand this Scripture, it is imperative that one have an understanding of God’s standard on sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Sin is death. That is why we are all condemned before God if we haven’t received God’s gift of salvation, because we all sin.
Some people think they are good people because they haven’t killed anyone or stolen anything. But all we have to do is look at the Ten Commandments. If we’ve told even one lie, we have sinned. And we deserve death. You may think that what I’m saying is harsh, but you have to remember that God hates sin. How bad can our “little” sins be? All you have to do is read how Jesus was humiliated, despised, persecuted, tortured and hung on the cross to get an idea. Jesus took all of God’s wrath against sin. He took the death that our sin deserved. And He shed His blood because that is the payment for sin.
In the Old Testament, an innocent animal was killed and sacrificed to cover the sin for a year. And each year, this sacrifice for sin had to be made. It only lasted a year. But the sacrifice of Jesus was made once and for all. “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) The blood that Jesus shed cleanses us from all sin, past, present and future. “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1John 1:7)
When we talk about all sin being forgiven, even the future, we have to clarify because as we all know, we continue to sin because we still live in this body. And we still live on this earth which is controlled by the enemy of God. But in reality, those whose sins have been washed by the Blood of the Lamb of God don’t habitually sin. And when we fall into sin, it is against our new nature, and we loathe it. That sin has been forgiven, but we must recognize it for what it is and repent; turn away from it. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)
This is much different from someone who has not been reborn of the Spirit. They habitually sin. They continue in their sin. They enjoy their sin. And they want to continue in their sin. They don’t want to leave it, which is what repentance is. Repentance is turning from our sin, renouncing it. If they want to change their lives, they can’t. They may try for a while, but they will return to it. What is the difference? The difference is the Holy Spirit. When we are born again of God, we receive the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to leave our sin. We make the decision to abandon our sin, but it is the Holy Spirit who does the work in us. That is why we may sin, but when we repent, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to abandon it forever.
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) By Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world. Being descendants of Adam, we have inherited his sinful nature. By the obedience of Jesus taking death on the cross for us, we are made righteous. We receive God’s nature when we are born again of God. We are made God’s children. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)
We know that the enemy would keep our loved ones in the dark. But we who are in the light can intercede for them. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Corinthians 4:3-4) Do not wonder that they can’t understand. Pray that the Lord open their eyes and ears of understanding. Jesus said, “Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” (Matthew 12:29) Jesus has given us power to bind the strong man. “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18) And we do it in the Name of Jesus because it is Jesus Who will do it.
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