" MESSIAH "

 

     The holiest day in the year is Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It is known as "the Sabbath of Sabbaths." This is the day that Jews ask the LORD to forgive them of their sins of the past year.

     However, what does the LORD want from us for the forgiveness of sins ? The answer can be found in the Bible, GOD's Holy WORD. "For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD." (Leviticus 16:30). "And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people." (Leviticus 16:24). "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11) A sacrifice is needed for our transgressions (sins), and it was instituted to cover our sin.

     The Bible spoke of lambs, rams, turtledoves, pigeons, goats, or cattle being given for a sacrifice. In more recent times, the only form of animal sacrifice has been a chicken, even though the Bible never speaks of chicken as a sacrifice.

     We must now ask ourselves, "Why don't we sacrifice today ?" Is it possible that a perfect sacrifice has already been offered for the atonement of our sins. . .once and for all ? If this is the case, where does the Bible speak of such things ? In the book of Isaiah, the Bible states, "But HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and by HIS stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on HIM the iniquity of us all. . .Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise HIM; HE has put HIM to grief: when THOU shall make HIS soul an offering for sin, HE shall see HIS seed, HE shall prolong HIS days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in HIS hand." (Isaiah 53:5-6,10)

     WHO is the LORD our GOD speaking about ? It is the MESSIAH ! "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship HIM . GOD is a SPIRIT: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in SPIRIT and TRUTH. The woman said unto HIM, I know that MESSIAH is coming, which is called CHRIST: when HE is come, HE will tell us all things. JESUS said unto her, I that speak unto you AM HE." (John 4:22-26) Therefore if JESUS CHRIST were the perfect sacrifice for our sins, there is no need for the sacrificial system today.

     What must you do to have this sacrifice applied to your heart, thereby cleansing you from ALL your sins (past, present & future) forever by the MESSIAH's blood ? First, the Bible says that you must repent (turning to GOD from your sin) of your sins. "Therefore I will JUDGE you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the LORD GOD. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions (sins); so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the LORD GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." (Ezekiel 18:30-32)

     Secondly, you must believe, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a, 3-4). "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes on HIM shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile): for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon HIM." (Romans 10:9-12) "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to GOD by the death of HIS SON, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS life. And not only so, but we also joy in GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, by WHOM we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:10-11)

     Thirdly, you must pray and ask the MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST, into your heart, to forgive your sins, once and for all with a simple prayer like this one:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for you always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN !

GOD's WORD says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)    Your servant in CHRIST,   Julie