To read Part Two, click here.
Jesus went to hell so you wouldn't have to!
After the resurrection, Jesus took His own blood as our High Priest into the Most Holy Place of heaven and poured it out on the mercy seat for eternal salvation for mankind! Hebrews 9:6-14 describes this:
"But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance ... When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father God, where He is preparing a mansion for each of us who believe in and follow Him. Jesus is alive! He's not like any other religious leader in history. You can go to the tombs of historical prophets and religious leaders and you'll find them mummified or just skeletal, but if you go to Jesus' grave you won't find Him!
He's not there. He's not dead! He has risen from the dead and His blood has paid the price for every person to experience life-eternal life, rather than death-eternal separation from God! The blood that Jesus shed is the only blood that was legally qualified to pay the price for our sin and death. It's an insult to put anyone else in the same league as Jesus, because everyone else is a human being with contaminated blood. Jesus was God, who became a man, who shed spotless blood so that the sins of mankind could once and for all be forgiven and paid for.
That is the good news that we have to share with others! This is why Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and THE life. While we respect the right of each person to choose their own beliefs and religious convictions, we are passionate about telling the whole world the good news of Jesus Christ!
... the bottom line: accept it or reject it...
So ... how does this affect you practically? It's simple. You have a decision to make: to accept or reject Jesus Christ. Decide whether to invite Him into your heart and life to be your Lord or to continue to run the show yourself as the Lord of your own life. It's really simple and it's not confusing. If you have a humble heart and are willing to repent and turn your heart away from the things you know are wrong and turn your heart towards Jesus, simply tell Him:
"Jesus I believe in You. I make the choice now to turn to You. I invite You to be the Lord of my life. Come into my life Jesus and forgive me of all my sins and help me to know You and walk with You from here on out. Thank You. Amen.
For a more detailed study on this topic, I recommend my book: "CRUCIFIED: Why the Gory, Bloody Cross?"
Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.
