The trouble with the old way of dealing with sin is that it really did not work. The old way is the way of the Old Testament. It is the way of repeated blood sacrifices. The old way pointed sinful people away from thinking they could handle what was wrong in their lives to a place of recognizing that divine help was needed. The old way provided a blood ritual enacted by a consecrated priest in a holy place, but when he finished, its inadequacies soon became apparent. (Hebrews 10:11) Who would really expect that sin could be taken away by the blood of bulls and goats? (Hebrews 10:4) And, then, once done, it needed doing again. It was a ritual of cleansing that lacked any permanence.
Those who really deal with their sins are those who finally come to the conclusion that they are not able to handle their sin without divine help. There is nothing we can do to undo what we have done. There is nothing we can do to alter the negative cause-effect relationship set in motion once we choose to commit sin. There is nothing we can do to take away the guilt that keeps us always looking over our shoulder for someone to slip up on us with an axe. The first step toward dealing with our sin is acknowledging that we are undone and without hope. (Ephesians 2:12)
Fortunately, there is a way of getting out from under this sin predicament we have created for ourselves, but it is not found in ourselves but in the Christ who has sacrificed Himself. We are made whole "...through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10) In another place the Words says, "..He has appeared once for all to at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:26) This may not be good news for those who figure ingenuity and determination will deliver them, but it is truly good news to those who know they need a Savior.
Those who really deal with their sins are those who finally come to the conclusion that they are not able to handle their sin without divine help. There is nothing we can do to undo what we have done. There is nothing we can do to alter the negative cause-effect relationship set in motion once we choose to commit sin. There is nothing we can do to take away the guilt that keeps us always looking over our shoulder for someone to slip up on us with an axe. The first step toward dealing with our sin is acknowledging that we are undone and without hope. (Ephesians 2:12)
Fortunately, there is a way of getting out from under this sin predicament we have created for ourselves, but it is not found in ourselves but in the Christ who has sacrificed Himself. We are made whole "...through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10) In another place the Words says, "..He has appeared once for all to at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:26) This may not be good news for those who figure ingenuity and determination will deliver them, but it is truly good news to those who know they need a Savior.
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