The Thirty First of March.THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST --- 1 John 1:7."The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." --- 1 John 1:7. Whatever we do ourselves, in answer to our convictions, is a covering, not a cleansing; and if we die in this condition, unwashed, uncleansed, unpurified, it is utterly impossible, that we should be admitted into the blessed presence of the Holy God. Revelation 21:27. Let no man deceive thee with vain words. It is not the doing of a few good works, it is not an outward profession of religion, that will give you an access with joy unto God. Unless you are washed from your actual transgressions in the blood of Christ, and cleansed from the pollution of your nature by the Spirit of God, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God; yea, without this washing you will be a horrible sight unto saints and angels, to yourselves, and to one another, when the shame of your nakedness shall be made to appear. If, therefore, you would not perish, and that eternally, if you would not perish as base, defiled creatures, an abhorring unto all flesh; then, when your pride, and your wealth, and your beauty, and your ornaments, and your duties, will stand you in no stead, look out betimes after that only way of purifying and cleansing your souls which God hath ordained: "Without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9:22. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, - but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot." --- 1 Peter 1:18, 19. No works of ours, the most or best, |