Freedom has cost too much blood and agony to be relinquished at the cheap price of rhetoric. – Thomas Sowell, Knowledge and Decisions
Most of us have been students of the Apology Economy of Forgiveness from a very young age, as our parents tried to mold us into model citizens.
“Johnny, you need to apologize to Bobby for hitting him,” says Johnny’s mother.
“I’m sorry, Bobby,” says Johnny.
“Sorry for what?” asks Johnny’s mother. (She wants him to name the offense.)
“I’m sorry I hit you,” says Johnny.
This is the way we grow up. We learn to apologize for each wrong committed, seeking forgiveness for messing up.
But this isn’t the way God works. God’s forgiveness is guaranteed by His covenant, not by our apologies. And His covenants have been rooted in an economy of blood since the beginning:
- The very first gift God gave Adam and Eve was the garden. The second gift He gave them was a blood sacrifice. Sin entered the world, Adam and Eve felt shame, and God clothed them with the skin of an animal. (Genesis 3:21)
- It was the lamb’s blood on the doorway that saved the Hebrews during Passover. (Exodus 12:23)
- When the Mosaic covenant was put into effect, “Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you…” (Exodus 24:8).
See, an Apology Economy says there is no forgiveness without saying sorry. But a Blood Economy says forgiveness comes only with the shedding of blood. This was true in the old covenant, and it’s true in the new covenant as well:
- “For you know that it was not with… silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life… but with the precious blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
- “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
- “The blood of Jesus… purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Listen to Pete, Jill & Stuart Briscoe on the Telling the Truth broadcast at OnePlace.com
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