Meriweather
Not all who wander are lost
- Oct 21, 2014
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- #121
Blood over unrighteousness. Boasting. Offering a defense.Here's the bottom line. I believe that NO ONE will be able to offer the slightest defense of themselves when they are before God, because our sinfulness will stand in stark contrast to His holiness. I don't care how long you think you can work on yourself in Purgatory, you will not be able to stand before God and say anything about your own holiness. And, finally, I do not believe that Christ cannot completely cleanse you in a moment, that somehow, He couldn't get the job done before He called us home.
Blood sacrifice wasn't ever a requirement for having sins forgiven. Blood was required when establishing a covenant. During the Last Supper, Jesus took the chalice saying, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many..." Throughout his ministry Jesus proclaimed repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and the leaders of his day kept demanding by whose authority did he say such a thing.
The New Covenant (also called Testament) was ratified by Jesus' own blood. There is a difference between a people under a new covenant with God, and a people who believe it was all about punishment--that they deserved to be punished, so God punished Jesus.
The better question to ask oneself when appearing at the Gates of Heaven: "Did/do I love God as much as he deserves?" God loves us and always has. No one needs a defense against love. Did the Prodigal Son need to defend himself to his father? Is God blinded by blood over unrighteousness, or is he still supremely cognizant of who we are deep down--and loves us? Does God want everyone to be the best version of him/herself?
'Attitude' is not a boastful remark. 'Attitude' is presumption of the highest order.