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We can have confidence because of what Christ did for us on the cross.
So Easter has happened. It has been a new reminder of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Yes, He rose from the dead! It was pretty amazing…not only to them, but it would be to us in our day as well! The fact that Jesus rose from the dead proved He was victorious over sin and death! He not only died as the sacrifice for sin, He conquered it. But the only proof that He was the Conqueror of sin and death was the Resurrection!
It makes all the Easter bunny activities seem so trivial by comparison. Yes, of course they are fun. But they can distract us from the real message of Easter. The thing about Easter is that it is never done. Easter is a reminder of what happened long ago that has eternal ramifications. A temporary arrangement became permanent. We could now have a clear conscience because our sin could be forgiven once and for all! How amazing!
And every priest stands daily at his service,
offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of God,
waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool
for his feet.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time
those who are being sanctified.Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV
So what?
Therefore, brothers (and sisters), since we have confidence
to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain,
that is, through his flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV
Jesus’ death for us allowed us to be able to enter the presence of God with confidence. It is no small thing.
Now, because of what Jesus has done, we can enter Jesus’ presence with confidence. This new and living way that He opened for us when the curtain was torn in two and He died as the perfect, eternal sacrifice for our sin on the cross. Because of what He did to cleanse us, we can hold onto our confession before Him, unwaveringly…not because of our strength, but because of His faithfulness!
With this confidence, we can stir each other to love and good works, encouraging each other to worship together, to be vulnerable to one another, to forgive one another when we have been deeply hurt. Because our heavenly Father has already forgiven us.
Why should we worship together?
Because our churches are so perfect and pristine? No! Because that is a place where we can stir each other up to love and good works and that is a place to be encouraged to live out the gospel. And because that is where we are reminded of what Jesus has done for us…to name just two reasons.
It’s all based on His work, His faithfulness, His power, His glorious cleansing
