Christ Jesus died for our sins. However, for lack of knowledge we sometimes do not fully appreciate his works on the cross. Hosea 4:6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Generalizing all sins as one unit is not enough knowledge to whip up our appreciation for the work of Christ Jesus on the cross. We wish to discuss this subject to the glory and honour of our Lord Jesus Christ.
No document can contain all that Jesus Christ forgave us on the cross and will forgive us if we repent. We can only mention a few of the broad categories of our dark deeds which we continue to patronize in spite of his grace. Until the Day of Judgment or his second coming, Jesus Christ will continue to forgive us any moment we confess our sins and ask for his pardon and cleansing in his blood. Jesus said in Matthew 26: 28; Mark 14: 24, my blood is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Sample of what Jesus bore on the cross for us
- All manner of sins including vilifying God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 28: 9; Matthew 5: 34-36; 12: 32; Mark 3: 29; Luke 12: 10)
- Blood shed including murder, abortion, unjust killing ( Matthew 15: 19; 1 John 3: 15, Exodus 20: 13; Jeremiah 22: 3)
- Disobedience including lukewarm attitude, and unfaithfulness (Joshua 1: 8; Proverbs 24: 21-22; 1 Samuel 15: 22; Jeremiah 7: 23; Nehemiah 1: 8; Revelation 2: 10; Matthew 5: 44-45)
- Fleshly dishonor including immorality, lust, inordinate desires, drunkenness, interfaith unions, and unnatural unions (1 Corinthians 5: 11; 6: 13; 10: 8)
- Heathen association and worship including identification through body marks, incisions, graffiti save the Holy Spirit (Leviticus 19: 28; 2 Corinthians 6: 16; Exodus 34:14)
- Indecision to serve God including possessing an unstable mind (Isaiah 14: 13-15; Exodus 20: 5; 29: 25-27; 34: 14; Deuteronomy 5: 21; Jeremiah 25: 6)
- Injustice including greed, cheating, theft, incontinent, covetousness, dishonesty and corruption (Jeremiah 22: 3; Psalms 82: 3; Proverbs 17: 23; 21: 3; 28: 5)
- Loose tongue including blasphemy, foolish talk, lies and deceit (James 3: 5-6,8; 1 Peter 3: 10; Matthew 12: 36)
- Mocking or provoking others including humiliation, rejoicing at the suffering of others (2 Kings 19: 22; Isaiah 37: 23; Galatians 6: 7; I Corinthians 13: 6)
- Our sinful nature including inherited sins; and sin by association (1 John 1: 8-9; Romans 3: 23; 5: 19; 1 Peter 2: 24)
- Power and abuse including violations, slavery, temperament, and arrogance, pride and haughtiness (Ezekiel 18: 12; Proverbs 8: 13; 11: 12; 16: 18; 29: 27; Jeremiah 7: 6-7; Psalms 59: 12; Matthew 7: 22; Isaiah 2: 17)
- Deviance and dissonance including divination, witchcraft, necromancy, wickedness and evil (Leviticus 19: 26; Deuteronomy 18: 10-12)
- Unbelief or disbelief including lack of faith in God, rejecting God’s grace and mercy, Christ Jesus, acknowledging other gods spirits deities objects or materials as god (Mark 16: 14; Romans 11: 20; Hebrews 3: 19)
Conditions for restoration
When we separate from sin, God will restore us. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. When the new comes, God will not forsake us. Hebrews 13: 5 says I will never fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31: 6, 8 says he will not fail you or forsake you. This assurance is subject to righteousness over sin or having a closer walk with Jesus Christ. We must remember Jesus will be our final judge and we must seek him when he may be found. Isaiah 55: 6 says seek the Lord while He may be found, call Him while He is near.
Psalms 37: 28 says the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his Saints. Predicated on the blood of Jesus by grace, we have become part of God’s covenant with Abraham as his spiritual descendants, Genesis 9: 9. Galatians 4: 4-5 say but when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Jesus’ rejection and death on the cross has opened the door of salvation with his blood for us. It is for us to appropriate the blood wisely by grace or to reject it in folly by sin and face rejection.
It is time to seek for Jesus Christ to open the access to God because he holds the key. Revelation 1: 17-18 say fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys to Death and Hades. Revelation 3: 7 says he has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens. We pray that we may not be shut out of heaven when the trumpet sounds. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus so we can appreciate Jesus Christ always.
Prayer
Our blessed Lord Jesus, you bore our sins and completed your good works and divine purpose for us on the cross. Lead us to ask for forgiveness in your blood and by the power of your resurrection. Teach us to appreciate you in all things and grant us your eternal peace in repentance in your holy name, Amen!!
