My hopes for picking up exactly the way I left off were derailed by the student week of prayer here at school. In particular, this week I was able to hear a powerful testimony, that of a male student who had been addicted to pornography. He knew it was wrong, and he tried to break off from the habit through his own efforts, but it would always end up with him going back every three days or so. Eventually, through the help of the prayers of a roommate and a few friends, he learned that the only way to overcome was through Jesus Christ, and a daily dying to Him; or, in more clear lingo, a daily dying of one's will to Christ, and allowing Christ to work His will in him. As a result, since then, he has never gone back.
This story also brings up other testimonies of people, who, were lost in sin and addiction, whether it was drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and a host of other sins, but through the power of Jesus, they were able to overcome. And this also brings up an implication on this essay: if it is possible to overcome your sins, doesn't that go completely against the argument of the liberal side, that the saints will sin until the day Christ returns? Yet, once again, it is to the Bible, and the Bible alone that I will turn for answers, though I will not forget this point made from the world of reality.
The previous quote, Romans 6:6-16, was an unfinished argument when I left last week. Here it is again.
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1,2)
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." (Romans 6:6-16)
The conservative argument in this verse will be shown by simply quoting scripture: "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" "For he that is dead is freed from sin." "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body." "For sin shall not have dominion over you." "To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." Need I speak, or do these verses say all that needs to be said? And continuing the same passage above:
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants unto uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:17-23)
In short, we were once slaves to sin, which is the condition that we as humans have all been in once, and most of us still are. However, Christ has freed us, giving us the choice to become his servants instead, or to return to the slavery of sin. As Paul was writing to Christians, in verse 18 he simply said "ye became the servants of righteousness". Since we have been freed from sin, why continue to sin in our mortal bodies? The freedom from sin Paul speaks of clearly is to take place here on Earth; for our heavenly bodies had better not be mortal! And so it seems plainly clear that freedom from sin is possible on this Earth, which rather completely destroys any liberal argument. However, that doesn't mean the essay ends here; the liberals do deserve a chance to find a verse that the conservatives cannot answer. As well, I will also review a few other conservative texts. After all, two verses are better than one, aren't they?
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
So, as the liberals argue here, when did this thief live a perfect, sinless life after conversion? How many neighbours did he show kindness to? After all, he died later that day, as John 19:31, 32 says. (Braking legs was a way to accelerate death. This is more Roman history than scripture.) However, it can also be argued that the thief probably did live a perfect life in those few hours that he did live as a Christian. As well, it isn't works that saves, it is faith, and this thief showed his faith in Christ when he asked "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." It was faith in Christ that he would succeed in saving the world from their sins; it was faith that Christ would have a kingdom at a time when he was hanging on a cross; it was a personal faith in Christ that his own sins were yet forgivable; and it was faith that Christ loved him enough to die for his sins. And through that one simple statement, his 'works', he gained salvation. On the other hand, if he didn't have to help the poor, why do we? The problem with this question is that the thief did not have any opportunity to help the poor. Does Christ expect a unemployed penniless Christian to donate money to Africa? No, of course not! Yes, he does expect him to look for work, but when circumstances make helping an impossibility, there really isn't much you can do. This, however, does not excuse someone in a dual income home, with cable, high-speed internet, and a phone bill the length of your kitchen table from giving to the poor because they are barely surviving their lifestyle with a balanced budget. If they are barely paying the bills each month, perhaps they should consider downgrading their lifestyle just a bit; nothing on that list was a necessary item. And even if you honestly have no money to donate, everyone has time that they can donate, through working at a soup kitchen, sorting clothes at a community services centre, and visiting the terminally ill in a hospital. These things don't require money!
For this next argument, I cannot give you a bible quote here, as it would be several pages long. I can give you the general references, which you may look up if you wish. Looking at the lives of David and Moses:
I Chronicles 21
II Samuel 11, 12
Numbers 20:1-13
What is the idea here? Moses was a man who spoke with God. God loved him so much that he raised Moses from the dead soon after he died, and brought him to heaven. (See Jude 9, Matthew 17:3 for evidence of this.) Yet in his old age, Moses sinned against God, by not following God's command. And yet God still raised him! In short, he was still saved, despite that sin in his old age. As for David, he was a man after God's own heart. (See Acts 13:22 for proof.) And yet in his old age, he basically murdered someone for their wife, and he numbered the people of Israel, something God had forbidden. Sinning in his old age did not disqualify David from entering heaven. If these people couldn't be sinless near the end of their times on Earth, how will we be sinless near the end of our time on Earth, right before the second coming? Since we know that freedom from sin is possible, yet these two great figures couldn't accomplish it, is it a requirement for salvation? The answer to this is that none of the sins we have seen are sins of addiction, or constant sins, where sin 'reigned in the mortal body'; rather, these were one-time incidents. Moses didn't make a habit of kindling his anger after his conversion in the wilderness. David didn't make a habit of killing men for their wives; though, in this case, it could be argued "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10) Still, two sins does not constitute an addiction, though it does illustrate the point that being here on the Earth, subject to temptation, allowed one who was after God's own heart to fall twice. However, perhaps it is the repentant attitude David had after failing that was his saving grace; See Psalm 51 for a prime example of this. So, the question remains: how did these people manage to sin, after conversion, and after living the 'perfect life without sin?' It can be argued that these two never reached a perfect life until after this moment. However, David, at least on our perception of him in the Bible, was closest to God when he was fleeing from Saul in the wilderness, and after this sin, he never did regain what he once was, going on to number Israel, and instructing his son to get revenge on those who had wronged him while on his deathbed. While it was the civil duty of a king to make war when necessary (this did not constitute sin), and execute people when necessary, it still wasn't very Christian to order those death sentences on his deathbed. (See I Kings 2.) How are we thus to respond? Throughout all his life, and through his sins, David never lost his faith that God was his salvation, and would cover his sins. This goes to illustrate that it is faith in God that determines our salvation, even if our works do not always show it, or if we sometimes fail. Thus, this leads one to believe that it is the addictive sin that will lead to our destruction, and not the occasional sin that we repent for afterwards, and have no desire to repeat. Further evidence of this is found below:
"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence [evil lust, often sexual; see a dictionary]. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7)
It took me more than a few readings of the previous passage to gain even a smidgen of understanding of that chapter. Paraphrase: we were under the law, which said that the wages of sin are death. However, we are no longer under the law, but under Christ. This does not eliminate sin however, neither does this make the law evil; for it is by the law that sin is defined; if there was no law against drunk driving, would it be illegal? No. The law exists so we know not to do it, because it is evil, and will eventually lead to our death. Yet it is only by the law that I sin; since sin is breaking the law. If there was no law, I would be perfect. Yet I would still have death working in me; the law shows me how my evil actions work death within me. The law is great; but I am sinful. I do that which I would not do; and that which I would not do, I do. If I do that which I would not, then I agree that the law is good. Because all men sin; and if I do not want to do that which I do (sin), then I agree that the law is correct. In me there is no good thing; how to be good is not within me. If I do which I would not, it is no longer I which does it, for I do not want to; but it is sin that does it, it is the sin that is in me, that I am slaved to, that forces me. I see within me two laws ruling my body: the law of my mind, which desires good; and the law of my flesh, which enslaves me to sin. Who will save me from this? Praise the Lord! I will with my mind serve God; but with the flesh serve sin.
Does this mean that all that is necessary is to desire to be good? Not so! Paul continues:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Romans 8:1-12)
No, it is not just a desire to be good that will save us; it is putting an end to the deeds of the flesh, through the Spirit. Sin cannot be eliminated without the Spirit. For in us "dwelleth no good thing". And so Christ, through his death on the cross, has made us free from the slavery of sin. Our price has been paid for. However, this does not mean that we have to leave. We can remain in slavery if we so desire. Or we may, in appreciation of his gift to us, make ourselves his servants. There is no other ground here on this planet. If we do not stand by Him, we will inevitably be caught trying to escape from slavery by ourselves, and returned to the slavery of sin. It is only by making ourselves His servants, each day, that we can escape from sin's power; that we can mortify the deeds of the body. It is only by the Spirit that victory comes. Does this mean that we will be perfect after conversion? No, it certainly doesn't! One only needs to look at the lives of Moses and David to see this. Even after serving our Saviour for years, we may still become self-confident and walk a little farther away, only to find ourselves back where we started. But even after mistakes, God is still willing to go to us, and pick us up where we have fallen. And any mistake will certainly draw us into an even closer dependence upon our Maker. Onto the topic of the Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost:
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:31-33)
What is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and why is it so special? As we have just discussed, we know that it is through the Spirit that the deeds of the body may be killed. To clarify what the Holy Ghost does, another verse is shown here:
"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost," (Romans 9:1). "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16:7-12)
These verses tends to hint that the Holy Ghost is connected with the conscience. However, I wouldn't be willing to say that the Holy Ghost is the conscience, due to the following verse:
"Unto the pure things all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1:15)
If the Holy Ghost was the conscience, how then can it become corrupted? Still, the Holy Ghost is connected to the conscience as previous verses show. Since the Matthew verse stated that all sin will be forgiven men except the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, can it be assumed that everyone who is lost will commit this sin? And if you don't, that you are saved? What exactly is this sin, for it to have such importance? Blasphemy in the traditional sense, claiming that one is God, or speaking against God, really doesn't work here, as a great many evil people haven't openly spoken against the Holy Spirit. However, one may easily insult the Holy Ghost by rejecting his entreaties to us to repent of our sins; after all, the Holy Ghost is connected with our conscience, that part of our mind that feels guilt after a sin, and many times tries to stop us as we enter into sin. As well, since it is through the Spirit that our sinful self is defeated, then rejecting the Spirit would leave us as sinful people, the type of people that tend to be viewed as lost. Could blasphemy against the Holy Ghost be rejecting his entreaties to us? Unfortunately, I have been able to find anything in the Bible that proves this, although the above verses does make it a rather reasonable conclusion. As well, the logic is also reasonable; what else would divide the saved and the lost? If this was the only factor, it certainly must be something that every lost person will be able to do, including non-Christians and people who know nothing of the existence of the Holy Ghost, yet feel his convicting power.
Now how does all this fit in with what we've already determined? That we have been freed from sin, and that we who are servants of Christ should no longer return to sin? Those Christians who are locked in addictive, perpetual sin, do so in spite of the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. By continuing in sin, they do spite the Holy Ghost, and will thus be lost if they do not escape their trend. We have also been freed from sin; it is possible to live a life without sin. However, we live in a world ruled by Satan, the tempter. And sometimes, after having served God for many years, we may become self-confident, and suddenly, without relying on Christ anymore, we find ourselves in sin once more. And after that, we are humbled, and use that to furthermore rely and depend on Christ. And one day, after walking with Christ for years, we will be saved.
How then is it possible to achieve a daily walk as a servant of Christ, without sin, and with love to every fellow human being?
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." (Titus 3:1-8)
We may have fallen to sin, but we can then immediately after continue to show the love of God towards men, and live a good, pure life; because by His mercy we have been saved, by the Holy Ghost we are renewed, and by His grace we are justified. By the renewing [present, ongoing tense!] of the Holy Ghost can we overcome our faults and live for Christ.
"And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:22-24)
Enoch walked with God, and he was taken from this world. To replicate the life of Enoch, therefore, is one way of salvation. This obviously can't happen, for we have already lived on the earth for a number of years. However, we can learn some lessons from his life in this text: He walked with God. What is it like to walk with God? What is it like to walk with someone else here on this planet? Imagine walking with someone in a park. What would your relationship with that person have to be for this to take place? First, you surely must know the person, or at least you are getting to know the person throughout the walk. Second, you are also travelling in the same direction as they are; for the duration of the walk, you are living as they are. Thus, Enoch grew to know God, and have a relationship with him; and Enoch walked in a similar manner as God would have walked on this Earth (Jesus came after Enoch lived): helping the poor, loving one's neighbour as himself, and reaching out to see the salvation of others. And truly, Jesus himself supports doing these things: helping the poor, loving one's neighbour, see the parable of the sheep and the goats above; reaching out to the salvation of others, see below:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)
As for walking with God, here is another parable:
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all the virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matthew 25:1-12)
At the end of the parable, Jesus tells the virgins (symbol of purity, and therefore we are likely talking about churchgoing Christians) "I know you not." The symbol of the oil & lamp often represents the Word, as in Psalm 119:105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." And so, these virgins did not know their Lord, just as many Christians today do not know their Lord. How does one come to know Christ? Through the word, we can learn of our Saviour and Creator. Through prayer, we speak back to Jesus. And thus, we develop a relationship with our God that will save us. Because it is only by His mercy and His grace that we stand any chance of overcoming our sins. By ourselves, it cannot be done. Believe me, I've tried. Only by walking daily with Christ, by getting to know Him, and by acting like Him, can we stand any chance of surviving this world. Only by His grace and His sacrifice on the cross are our sins forgiven, and only with a daily renewal by the Holy Spirit, are our sins beatable. And only by faith in Him, in His sacrifice, and in His love for us, will we be able to reach the heavenly mansion Christ has prepared for us.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star."
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21-22)
Well, here I am at the end. Have I a solid, simple path to salvation to present you? Unfortunately, I cannot sum up salvation in a thesis sentence. After all, the Bible takes over a thousand pages to do the task. Many, many intelligent and wise people have tried to explain it and failed. How is a freshman college student supposed to do it?
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
To completely understand salvation is not likely for us, here on this Earth. It would take a mind much greater than the ones we currently possess to understand it fully. This perhaps is why Christ tried to break down salvation into small digestible chunks known as parables. While we may not fully understand salvation completely and all it's implications, God has always been there to give just enough knowledge to the searching person to allow us to have faith in Him, some of which has been discovered in the above paragraphs. He has promised, in the previous text, that all things will work out for the person who loves God. And so, as long as we continue to hold fast to that which we know is faithful and true, we have nothing to worry about.
"Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you over evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood.Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide?
There's wonderful power in the blood.Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood.There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb."
(Lewis E. Jones, 1899)
For I know that my Saviour died for me so that through His sacrifice, I might enter into life. And so, my faith in Him, which is possible through His grace, will lead me into a greater relationship with Him, a greater love of Him, and will be reflected in my works. Through His sacrifice, I have been freed from my sins, and am no longer enslaved to them; and by a daily spiritual renewal leading myself to surrender my will and become His servant, I can accomplish His works, and overcome my sins. And while acting as His servant, my Saviour will watch out for me, and take care of my needs, physical and spiritual. And when it is all said and done, He will then carry me home, where I will praise Him forever. Amen. Thank You, Jesus.