Apples of Gold
Radio Script for October 15, 2008
“Power, Power, Wonder Working Power”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Adam and Eve sinned, and felt shame.
Their cover-up attempts were ineffective, then God stepped in.
It was an awesome and terrible event. Some of His creations, some beautiful animals that He had so recently made out of His own creativity, were killed. Their blood drained from them.
I wonder if it was the first time Adam and Eve had ever seen blood? Were they horrified at the sight? Sickened? Were they ashamed and shocked at this new consequence for their sin?
God took the now lifeless carcasses of these unfortunate creatures and made garments of skin for the wayward first couple. They could now adequately cover up, but oh, what a price.
It was the first time, but it was definitely not the last time that blood was shed because of human sin.
In the days of Moses, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, a land of many false gods. The Egyptians harshly mistreated the Israelites, and they cried out to God. So God called Moses to deliver the people from Egypt – and to carry out a mighty judgment against the Egyptians.
The final judgment was this. A “destroyer” would pass through the land, killing all the first born. But the Israelite firstborn could be spared, if they killed a lamb and put its blood on the doorframe of their house. The lamb would die, and its blood would spare the life of the child. Yes, it was a bloody night, all because of the grievous sins of Egypt.
Of course the Israelites were sinners, too. And once again blood would be shed to deal with it. In fact, God instituted a whole system of sacrifices involving blood for sin offerings and guilt offerings and fellowship offerings. And once a year the high priest used blood as a sin offering for the atonement of the people.
The blood of these animals was God’s chosen instrument. In Leviticus 17:11 God said, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
These blood sacrifices for sin were made generation after generation. Untold gallons of blood shed for the sin of the people, because that’s what God told them to do.
Hebrews 9:10 called it “external regulations.” They went through the motions on the outside, but it didn’t make any changes on the inside. Verse nine says that the “…sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.”
Hebrews 10:4 says, “…it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
Then Jesus Christ came on the scene, and He started talking about His own blood. He said His blood was the blood of a new covenant, “which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
And Jesus’ blood was poured out…on the cross. Romans 3:25 says that Jesus Himself became the “sacrifice of atonement.”
Then the Bible says He went to heaven. He took on the role of high priest, entered the real tabernacle, into the real most holy place, and offered His blood as the real sin offering.
And God accepted Jesus’ blood as the complete and final sacrifice for sin. Never again must a creature be killed to cover the sins of man.
Romans 3 says we have all sinned, but now, through faith in the blood of Christ, we are made right with God, redeemed.
Romans 5:9 says we have been justified by Jesus’ blood, and saved from God’s wrath.
Ephesians 1:7 says we have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
First John 1:7 says that Jesus’ blood “purifies us from all sin.”
Revelation 1:6 says that Jesus freed us from our sins by His blood.
Now you might ask, “What good does that do me today?”
First Peter 1 says that Jesus’ blood has redeemed us from the empty way of life handed down to us.
Hebrews 9 and 10 says that Jesus’ blood will actually cleanse our consciences so that we may serve the living God, starting right now.
Colossians 1 says that God did this so that we could be holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
Hebrews 10:22 says that now we can freely “draw near to God” because Jesus’ blood has cleansed us, enabling us to come into God’s presence.
Yes, blood is still the price for sin, but thank God He did away with all those animal sacrifices, which had no power to change us on the inside anyway.
Jesus’ blood was the perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins. Through faith in His blood we are forgiven, redeemed, and made holy in the sight of God. Through His blood our conscience is cleansed, our life has new purpose, and we are free to draw near to God and come into His holy presence.
No wonder the old hymn says:
(play chorus by Shirley Caesar)
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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