Yes, I love Him. Yes He loves you. He died in your place. To take your sins upon Himself...so that YOU would not have to suffer eternity without Him, as many will. I heard this week that there are twice as many scriptures about hell as there are about heaven. Jesus came that we would have life. (here...and eternity with Him also)
God's plan from the Old Testament was that the blood of a spotless lamb would be spilt once a year at the Temple in Jerusalem. One perfect, spotless lamb for each family. For thousands of years the Jews would faithfully purchase a lamb in Jerusalem and have it slaughtered. They symbolically placed all of their sin on this animal, and realized that God would accept the blood sacrifice.
As you may know, in the time of Moses and the Exodus when the Jews were about to leave Egypt after 400 years bondage, Pharaoh would not let God's people go. Many plagues were sent from God to soften Pharaoh's heart. But he would not soften. The final plague was of the death of the first born son. God told the Jews to put the blood of a spotless lamb on the door-posts and lentils of their homes.
They failed to notice when the Passover was upon them in Jesus day...the year appointed for the Son of God, the perfect Lamb of God to die in our place. (they were busy with the animals at the same time)
While the men in the temple were examining the lambs for slaughter for the Feast of Passover inside the temple walls, Pilate and Herod were at the same time examining the Lamb of God to see what spot or blemish was on Him. They could find no wrong. He was perfect. Pilate said, " I find no guilt in this man." Herod said, " I find nothing deserving of death was done by this man." The crowd insisted on his crucifixion.
When I began to trust Jesus with my life, I realized that every sin that I would ever commit was atoned for when he died at Calvary. I placed ALL my sins on Him and God the Father accepted Jesus' sacrifice for my sins. He alone can take away sin. Just as the blood was to be applied to the door post in Egypt, the blood of Jesus must be applied to the door post of our heart. This is the only way that we will escape the judgement of God.
One day shortly after I did the above, the Lord (so to speak) showed me a vision of Himself almost as you see the picture at the top of the page. I could see Him to my left and on the floor laying on the cross. As I observed this scene, He turned His face to look to me in the eye. He said, " For you." I realized at that moment just how very personal this was. My life has never been the same from that day.
Without the shedding of blood there is no sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 9:22 says, " almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
In this way, the death angel would passover the house, and the plague would not bother anyone in the house. From that night about 3,400 years ago until today, the Jews observe Passover each year around our Easter to remember that event. This year too Passover will be observed starting the 13th of April.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entered into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once n the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:24-28).
This is our ONLY ticket to heaven. We tell you these things because we know it to be true. We are here to witness only to this truth.
I pray that the Lord will open your understanding to this truth, and give you ears to hear and eyes to see.
Suzanne
