The Cross Symbol of Grace
He would sprinkle the goat blood on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. That lid made
of beaten gold was called the “Mercy Seat.” Inside the Ark was a copy of the Ten
Commandments representing the Law of God. By the sprinkling of the blood, the sins of
the people were “covered.” That covering by means of blood was called the “atonement.”
The sacrifice of blood turned away the wrath of God. Why is this important? Because
God’s justice demands death as the ultimate punishment for sin.
Let’s look at the Day of Atonement symbolically. During the other days of the year
when God looked down from heaven, he saw the Ten Commandments inside the Ark.
The Ten Commandments stood as a testimony against the …show more content…
“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once and for all when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 7:24-27 (NKJV)
50
The Cross Symbol of Grace
Several years ago Phil Donahue (who hosted a popular TV talk show for many years)
listed the various reasons why he had become disillusioned with Christianity. Among
them was this: “How could an all-knowing, all-loving God allow his Son to be murdered
on a cross to redeem my sins?” That’s an excellent question because it goes to the very
heart of the gospel. Why did Jesus have to die? Why would God put his own Son to
death, especially to save people who had rebelled against him? In searching for the
answer, it helps me to think of another question: Since God is both all-powerful …show more content…
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called many receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:11-15 (NKJV)
If God accepted the former the former ritual as a purifying of the flesh, how much more
will God be satisfied by the sacrifice of His own son. It brings peace with God.
51 The Cross Symbol of Grace
Some 220 years ago there was a man in England by the name of William Cowper. He
had a nervous disposition and often struggled with bouts of severe depression. At one
point he became extremely depressed, fearing that he was under the wrath of God. “I
flung myself into a chair by the window and there saw
He would sprinkle the goat blood on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. That lid made
of beaten gold was called the “Mercy Seat.” Inside the Ark was a copy of the Ten
Commandments representing the Law of God. By the sprinkling of the blood, the sins of
the people were “covered.” That covering by means of blood was called the “atonement.”
The sacrifice of blood turned away the wrath of God. Why is this important? Because
God’s justice demands death as the ultimate punishment for sin.
Let’s look at the Day of Atonement symbolically. During the other days of the year
when God looked down from heaven, he saw the Ten Commandments inside the Ark.
The Ten Commandments stood as a testimony against the …show more content…
“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once and for all when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 7:24-27 (NKJV)
50
The Cross Symbol of Grace
Several years ago Phil Donahue (who hosted a popular TV talk show for many years)
listed the various reasons why he had become disillusioned with Christianity. Among
them was this: “How could an all-knowing, all-loving God allow his Son to be murdered
on a cross to redeem my sins?” That’s an excellent question because it goes to the very
heart of the gospel. Why did Jesus have to die? Why would God put his own Son to
death, especially to save people who had rebelled against him? In searching for the
answer, it helps me to think of another question: Since God is both all-powerful …show more content…
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called many receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:11-15 (NKJV)
If God accepted the former the former ritual as a purifying of the flesh, how much more
will God be satisfied by the sacrifice of His own son. It brings peace with God.
51 The Cross Symbol of Grace
Some 220 years ago there was a man in England by the name of William Cowper. He
had a nervous disposition and often struggled with bouts of severe depression. At one
point he became extremely depressed, fearing that he was under the wrath of God. “I
flung myself into a chair by the window and there saw