Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Did it say we draw near having done all sorts of charitable gymnastics? No. Did it say we draw nigh to God with all sorts of loving deeds under our belts? Not at all. We draw near with FAITH. We do not get closer to God by doing more good things. That doe snot mean we must live forth good works.
Titus 3:8 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 unto men.
They don't enhance our relationship with God. But they are for men. Others. And that is vital, but never saves. Only the blood saves.
So, the beginning and the journey all see us get closer to God by the concept of the virtue and basis of the cross where Christ died as us. The good works we must do are not to draw us closer to God whatsoever. They manifest as symptoms the fact that we are close to Him, but don't bring us to Him. He's too holy for our works to draw us close to Him by impressing Him.
This is the reason those who live with a concept of drawing close by good works are so negative and down in themselves, and God refuses to bless those who feel good works will bring them to Him. So there is a darkness in such circles of thinking.
Having the conscience sprinkled refers to the sprinkling of blood that in Old Testament times purged the tabernacle and vessels. the point is the blood of animals cannot purge the conscience. That is accomplished by the blood of Jesus, though. And the blood of Jesus always is mentioned to indicate His grace in paying the debt of our sins for us by HIS death, not ours. Ours was initially required. So He took our place and died as us. And baptism into that death counts His death as our own. THAT is how we draw night to God. the blood remits sins and sins are what separated and made us far off from God. So, by the blood we draw nigh! BLOOD speaks of DEATH. HIS death as us.
Those who stand on His blood alone will soar in the things of the Spirit! And their lives will THEN produce the seemingly elusive good works people otherwise think bring us to Him. In reality, these are the works that follow a life close to Him, and do not bring us to Him.
God's love for us FIRST by the cross, then our love to HIm and everyone else
follows that. The difference between Christianity and every other religion.
We try working good works of love to get to God and we'll journey to hell. That's not the place for good works. They are AFTER we come to God by the blood.
Threaded Mode
