An appeasement or restitution is incomplete without the involvement of Jesus who is the central theme or factor. This is because restitution is repentance from sin to righteousness, from hate to love, and from deprivation or denial to restoration in God.
Jesus said repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, Matthew 3:2. He also said that we should bear fruit that befits repentance Matthew 3:8. This is the central theme of Jesus’ message and it cannot be done without him. Without Jesus Christ, all we do is worthless before God. Our righteousness is like filthy rags before God and only Jesus can wash it as white as snow, Psalms 51:7; Isaiah 1:18.
Our hearts
Since creation, our hearts have always deceived or misled us from acknowledging Christ Jesus. It is time to wake us and to do the right thing because we have run out of time. Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt, who can understand it?
Hebrews 3:13 exalts us to preach the word so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Our corruptible flesh may be weak though the spirit may be strong so we need God’s grace through Jesus Christ. We need Christ Jesus to work on the state of our hearts before we can appease God.
The relevance of Jesus Christ
We cannot satisfy the conditions for appeasing God without the involvement of Jesus Christ. This is because he is Lord and Saviour ordained by God for this purpose. God speaking in Isaiah 57:12 said I will tell of your righteousness and your doings, but they will not help you. In other words we cannot build on a wrong foundation unless we get the principles right.
1 John 1:8-9 also says that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Are we ready for restitution?
All those who have attempted to atone for their wrongs without the Holy Spirit have failed. This is because atonement for sin is by blood which was by the blood of an animal in the Old Testament and by the blood of Jesus in the New Testament. Whilst atonement by the blood of an animal was a repetitive annual ritual, the blood of Jesus Christ was once and forever in all circumstances.
Hebrews 9:12-14 say that Christ entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. If the sprinkling of blood of goats and bulls could purify the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Jesus?
Taking the wrong approach
Jesus said that this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, Mark 14:24. When we attempt to atone in the flesh, we do it wrongly because 1 Corinthians 15:50 says flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Jesus is the only one who can show us the true way to do it which is by the Holy Spirit, John 14:6.
We can only do it right with the strength of Christ as Paul said in Philippians 4:13 that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Atonement is showing love and gratitude to God by restoring with conscience what we have plundered from others without just cause and resolving to do it right by avoiding the wrong. Jesus is waiting with his arms open to sanctify our sacrifice. Let us come to Jesus, he is softly and tenderly calling yet weeping because of the dangers ahead which we cannot see.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we cannot do without you in any situation so be close to us and sanctify our offerings by your blood that they may be acceptable before our Father in heaven. In your holy name we have prayed, Amen!!
