Trusting in dead works leads to forfeiture of divine inheritance
The high priest, Caiphas, made it clear that he believed that Jesus should die so that the nation of Israel could maintain their status quo of peaceful submission to Roman domination. The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus, and wanted to kill Him. John’s gospel records – “Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think – that He will not come to the feast?’ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.” (John 11: 53-57)
During the time of Moses, God rescued His people from bondage in Egypt. He dealt with Pharaoh’s stubborn and proud heart through a series of ten plagues, the final one being the death of the firstborn children and animals. – “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.” (Ex. 12: 12) God gave the following instructions to the children of Israel through His prophet Moses – “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house till morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.’” (Ex. 12: 21-24)
The Jews celebrate the Passover, in remembrance of their firstborn being spared before their exodus from Egypt. The Passover lamb was symbolic of the true Lamb of God that would one day come to take away the sins of the world. As we read the above verses from John’s gospel, the time of the Passover was approaching again. The true Lamb of God had come to offer Himself as a sacrifice. The prophet Isaiah prophesied – “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” (Isa. 53: 6-7) Jesus came performing miracles and signs, and boldly proclaimed who He was. The religious leaders, puffed up in their own righteousness according to Moses’ law, perceived Him as a threat worthy of death. They had no understanding of their own personal need of redemption. They rejected Him, and in doing so rejected the only sacrifice that could save them from eternal death. John wrote – “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1: 11) The Jewish leaders not only did not receive Him; they wanted to kill Him.
Jesus had given the Jews the law through the prophet Moses. Now Jesus had come to fulfill the law that He had given. Hebrews teaches – “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.’ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – in the volume of the book it is written of Me – to do Your will, O God.’” (Heb. 9: 1-7)
Jesus came to do the will of God. He came as the Lamb who would shed His blood to satisfy God’s justice for all eternity. Man had become separated from God since Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden, and man could not save himself. No religion ever created can save man. No set of rules or requirements can eternally satisfy God’s justice. Only the death of Jesus Christ – God in flesh – could pay the price necessary to open the doorway back to a relationship with God. Consider what is taught in Hebrews – “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Heb. 9: 11-15)
Mormons – if you believe that your temple recommend qualifies you to enter God’s presence; or that your temple garments are a sign of your worthiness before God; or keeping the Sabbath day holy, obeying the word of wisdom, doing temple work, or keeping your Mormon temple covenants can make you righteous before God…I declare to you that only the blood of Jesus Christ applied to you will cleanse you of sin. Only faith in what He has done to appease God’s justice will bring you into an eternal relationship with God. Muslims – if you believe that living a life following Muhammad’s example; praying dutifully five times a day; making a Hajj to Mecca; paying the Zakat faithfully; declaring the Shahada; or fasting during Ramadan will make you worthy before God…I declare to you that only the shed blood of Jesus Christ satisfied God’s wrath. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ can you become a partaker of eternal life. Catholics – if you are trusting in the traditions, works and sacraments of the church to gain favor with God; or that confession to a Priest can bring you forgiveness; or that your faithfulness to the church can qualify you for heaven…I declare likewise to you that only in what Jesus has done is there true forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Only Jesus Christ is the bridge between God and man. Anyone else in any religion who believes that they are on a path to merit entrance into heaven through their own good works…only trust in Jesus Christ’s all sufficient death and resurrection can bring you eternal life. Following anyone else, other than Jesus Christ will lead you to eternal damnation.
Jesus Christ lived on this earth. He revealed God to us. He went as a sheep to His slaughter. He gave His life so that all those who put their trust in Him could live forever with God. If today you are on some path of good works that you believe will lead you to salvation, won’t you consider today what Jesus has done for you…
