Colossians 1:20, "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
I love Colossians 1:20!!! The Bible teaches that Jesus has made peace
between sinners and God the Father through THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS.
Notice that Jesus didn't make peace through “the cross”; but rather, through
“the blood of His cross.” IT WAS THE BLOOD! Jesus shed His blood while on
the cross, and then that physical, literal, precious, blood was taken to
Heaven to be “SPRINKLED” upon the Mercy Seat in the heavenly tabernacle.
Hebrews 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to
the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
The following awesome passage of Scripture simply teaches that Jesus' literal, physical, precious, blood sacrifice in Heaven accomplished what no earthly Old Testament lamb sacrifice could ever do, that is, once and for all wash away the sins of mankind...
Hebrews 9:6-12, “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Now none if this could have happened in Heaven had the blood not been shed upon THE CROSS. Everything pertaining to Christ's redemptive work (His virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious [substitute in our place] death, deity, bodily resurrection, bodily ascension into Heaven and literal blood sacrifice upon the heavenly Mercy Seat) was dependent upon Jesus being crucified and dying upon THE CROSS. This is why the Bible preaches “the cross.” 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
Let me explain it another way. Without Christ's virgin birth and sinless life, He would not have been acceptable as the Lamb of God to die for the sins of mankind. A spotted, female or imperfect sacrifice would have been rejected by God the Father. So we see that the virgin birth, deity of Christ and His sinless life were all essential requirements in order for Him to die on the cross.
And then following the crucifixion on the cross and Christ's death, the Lord's body had to be buried to officiate His death, and then Jesus needed to be raised up bodily exactly three days later as prophesied (Matthew 12:40). The Lord needed to ascend bodily into Heaven with the literal, physical, blood that He had shed on the cross. The Lord needed to enter into the heavenly Holy Place within the Tabernacle, and sprinkle the blood upon the Mercy Seat which rests on the Ark Of The Covenant between the two Cherubims. God's glory resides in the middle, looking down upon the blood (Hebrews 9:4-5).
Remember what God said during the coming
Passover in Egypt, when the firstborn of all man and beast would die if the
blood wasn't applied? Exodus 12:13... WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD I WILL PASS
OVER YOU! Likewise, when God the Father sees Christ's literal blood
sprinkled on the heavenly Mercy Seat, He passes over our sins. No one was
safe during the Passover unless they stayed INSIDE one of the homes
with the lamb's blood brushed across the doorposts and lintel (top) of the
door. The blood has been applied in Heaven. The $64,000 question is, have
YOU received the gospel as full-payment for YOUR SINS? Have you been
born-again by the Spirit of God? The blood has been applied, and Christ is
the Savior of all men (1st Timothy 4:10), but you MUST receive Him (John
1:12) to be saved.
Room At The Cross For Three Murderers
Moses, David and Saul (later renamed Paul) were
all guilty of murder. In fact, Saul was a mass-murderer who dragged
Christians from their homes and stoned them to death. Saul hated the Church
and WASTED IT! Galatians 1:13, “For ye have heard of my conversation
in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the
church of God, and wasted it.” Jesus will receive anybody who will
receive Him, no matter how evil and wicked you may be.
Repent And Believe To Be Saved!
Room At The Cross For Two Prostitutes
In the wonderful hymn, ROOM AT THE CROSS, the writer assures us confidently that there is enough room at the foot of the cross for more repentant sinners...
Room At The Cross
Words and music by Ira Stamphill
The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.
Chorus
There's room at the cross for you
There's room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there's still room for one
Yes there's room at the cross for you.
