The second threefold aspect of our enslavement to righteousness

2.    The Blood of Jesus Christ

The blood of Jesus Christ is the second of the threefold aspect of our enslavement to righteousness or our enslavement to God. For it is written; “For if by the one man's [the first Adam] offense  death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's [Christ the last Adam] righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19.

This righteous act is the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ which is also the righteous acts of the saints that makes their garments white; as it is written; And to her [the church] it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. This righteous act is the application of the blood of the Lamb, which Jesus Christ offers as High Priest when interceding on our behalf (Revelation 19:8).

It is only the blood of the Lamb that can make one’s garment clean, for it is written; “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me; "these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:13-17).

One becomes enslave to this aspect of righteousness by taking heed to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings at the appointed time. For thus says the Lord; "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).

The church, the body of Christ as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people, that they may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”  (1Peter 2:5, 9).

This aspect of our enslavement is the source of our redemption, because without the shedding of blood there is no remission or forgiveness of sin. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and God has given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' It is through the blood of Jesus Christ represented by the wine that we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Leviticus 11:7; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22).

This aspect of our enslavement typifies also our enslavement to the way Jesus Christ lived because, “For to this we were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed” (1Peter 2:21-24).

We are enslaved to this aspect of righteousness by practicing and imitating the life of Jesus Christ because, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (1John 4:17).

If we fall short in our pursuit in imitating the life of Jesus Christ provisions have been made to reinstate us, for we have been duly admonished saying: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1John 2:1-2).

So in short, the second aspect of our enslavement to righteousness is the blood of Jesus Christ which refers to His life and the redemption price He paid for all humanity.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph