In Touch - July 10-11, 2010

July 10-11
The Shed Blood of Jesus 
John 1:29-34

When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching, he declared Christ to be the Lamb of God (John 1: 29).

This concept was actually familiar to the Israelites, since their law required blood offerings as atonement for sin (Lev. 17:11). Jesus became our sacrificial lamb, paying "once for all" the sin debt owed by mankind. (1 Pet. 3:18). His death secured forgiveness and eternal life for everyone who trusts Him as Savior. With regard to salvation, nothing else is required or acceptable to God.

Jesus was the one who set things right between the Father and man. He died to bring us . . .

Redemption. This was a word that was used to describe a marketplace transaction—one that buys back something of value. All humanity was in bondage to sin and unable to pay the penalty (Rom. 6:23). As our sacrificial lamb, Jesus willingly died in our place and, with His blood, redeemed us for His Father (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Forgiveness. As God's adopted children, we have been saved by the blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28) and permanently pardoned for our transgressions. The penalty for our actions has been fully paid. So at the moment of salvation, our guilt for the sins we committed—past, present, and future—is wiped away.

Meditate on what the Savior did at Calvary (Eph. 1:7) As the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus exchanged His life for ours and gave it up to pay what we owed. His death redeemed us, secured our forgiveness, and gave us a permanent place in God's family. Thank You, Jesus, for bringing redemption! 

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

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Join Dr. Charles Stanley and In Touch Ministries as we intercede for our great nation. It is immensely important for believers to seriously consider where we are as a nation and understand the dangerous spiritual tide that is engulfing us. By clicking "Yes!" you are making the commitment to pray for our nation. In response to this pledge, we will be sending you a weekly e-mail to help you in this important endeavor. Each e-mail will include Scripture and prayer points to help unite us as a body of believers. There will be one e-mail per  week for the 140 days, beginning July 5th.

Please click here to join this nationwide prayer effort. 

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved.