blood of Jesus

Good morning friends and happy St. Patrick's Day,
We'll spend some time with this reading tomorrow in worship as we reflect on how Christ's cross frees us from sin. In some ways this reading makes more sense if you read the second paragraph first because the second paragraph reminds us that we all sin against God. If we say we don't have sin we are lying, but if we confess our sin God will forgive us.

The flip side of that is in the first paragraph: those who know Jesus and walk in his light are called to leave sin alone. Once we come to Christ we leave our sin behind. That doesn't mean we become perfect; faithfulness is always a struggle, but following Jesus makes a difference in our lives. As we confess, seek God's forgiveness and begin a new life of faithfulness, Christ's blood cleanses us from sin so we can be forgiven and made whole.

God bless you as you live into that freedom,
Sam

1 John 1:5-10

⁵This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; ⁷but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Revelation

Good evening friends,
We're reading from Revelation tonight, which is a book many of us don't know well. The book as a whole is a vision given to John from Jesus. In the scene we're reading John is standing in heaven. The vision talks about how Jesus conquers the evil powers of the world through his death on the cross. He also talks about redeeming a people for God through Christ's blood. We share that redemption today. Through Christ's death and resurrection we are set free and redeemed.

God bless,
Sam

Revelation 5: 1-12

5Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; ²and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁴And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

⁵Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” ⁶Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. ⁸When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

⁹They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; ¹⁰you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.” ¹¹Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹²singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”