June 10, 2025 | Be God's Family
Christ Died to Set Us Free
Scripture: Hebrews 9:15(NIV)
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Devotional
This single verse captures the profound transition from our past relationship with God, formed by his covenant with Moses, to the new covenant mediated through Jesus. Living under the Mosaic covenant, man could only be forgiven through sacrifice and strict adherence to religious law. Since humanity is imperfect, these sacrifices were also imperfect. Christ’s death removed the barrier of human imperfection as He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins, allowing us to receive God’s forgiveness unconditionally.
The original Mosaic covenant required the spilling of blood as payment for the forgiveness of sin. Death, therefore, was the consequence of sin. However, these sacrifices did not open the door to God. Only the High Priest had access to the temple’s Most Holy Place on the annual Day of Atonement, when he made special sacrifices meant to close the gap between God and the people of Israel. But humanity, as a whole, was still separated from God. The way to Him was mysterious, and the sacrifices of food and animals were ceremonies standing in for the closer relationship to come.
Christ’s death was the ultimate sacrifice, as the blood of Christ cleanses humanity as no other sacrifice could. His death purchased eternal redemption, allowing us to make a new covenant with God and move forward into a life filled with serving Him. Such intimacy with God and the promise of endless absolution were revolutionary for people who lived under the law of sacrifices, as they often are for people who have not known Jesus and God. Through his death, Christ opened the way to God for each of us.
Sin and forgiveness are inherently painful, particularly to the heart, and sin is costly both to us and to God. Forgiveness does not mitigate this cost nor simply erase the wounds of the heart that sin causes. Rather, it opens the door to a new relationship. Imagine that someone you love commits a sin against you. Your heart is broken. When they ask for your forgiveness, would you have them sacrifice something? Or would you sacrifice something precious to show them how much you loved them still? That is what God did for us, because He loves us that much. Christ, in his death, became the bridge to a relationship with God even after we sin against Him.
Think about what you are willing to sacrifice for others, then think about what God has sacrificed for you. The gift of grace calls for a lifetime of grateful response. Does your life reflect your response? If not, what changes are you willing to make?
Poem
Love Of Jesus?
Psalm 36
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:5-7
O, the glorious love of Jesus
O, its grace, its shing forth
O, that every thought I pondered
Had as Jesus its fount source
O, the startl’ng love of Jesus
O, the welcoming embrace
O, the length of arms encircling
Broken sinners of our race
O, the gentle love of Jesus
O, its pow’r to woo the lost
Coaxing e’en most timid sinner
Willing to expend the cost
O, the thought, the love of Jesus
Full extended e’en to me
I, His portion, His inher’tance
To with Him forever be!
O, the wondrous love of Jesus
O, its height, its breadth, its width
O, that my love swelled to torrents
Flooding forth and matching His!
