A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

a. Ransomed to God by the precious blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.18-19 – Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

b. Christ Jesus came to give his life a ransom for us, Matt. 20.28 – Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

c. The Church of Jesus Christ is purchased not by our discipline but by his own blood, Acts 20.28 – Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

2. Without blood, there can be no remission of sin.

a. Only the blood of Christ can purify our consciences from condemnation and liberate us to serve God by faith, Heb. 9.12-14 – He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. [13] For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purifica tion of the flesh, [14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

b. Jesus suffered in order to bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring