Saturday, February 14, 2009

Atonement & Sacrifice

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites. And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Lev 16:34)

Was trawling the Cornerstone Community Church website this evening. These stats struck me:

Roughly two-thirds of the world's population (more than 3.2 billion people) live in the 10/40 window.
About 85% of the world's poorest of the poor, live there.
It is estimated that 95% of the people are unevangelized.
Of 22 countries with severe Christian persecution, 15 are in the 10/40 window.
Many have never heard the Gospel message even once.

Because the wages of sin is death, we escape death only if our penalty is paid for by another's death. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." (Heb 9:22)

In the OT, it was through the blood of bulls and goats. In the NT, Christ atones for our sin by his own blood. "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." (Heb 9:12) It is a high price, but what great grace.

Prayer today: Father God, I thank you for the Saviour, Christ Jesus, who atoned for my sin, and satisfied the demands of justice by a Holy God. By this great act of love, I have been redeemed, set free, fully reconciled to you. I lift up the many billions who have not heard about Christ Jesus; that they too may know the Redeemer. Amen.

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