We are entering a time of the year that will require and draw our attention to the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Today's study will point our attention somewhat to that time frame. 

We are not redeemed by means of the things of man or man's actions.  One can do much good in life but that doesn't necessarily mean that s/he will be accepted into glory with Jesus Christ.  There are lots of wonderful and good people who are not ready to step into eternity. 

How can I say this?  It's like this.... 

We can buy a lot of things with our wealth.  Salvation cannot be received that way.  Neither can salvation be obtained by simply living a good life.  So how DO we obtain salvation? 

Christ paid a debt that we could never pay and He never owed.  He paid our debt.  For our sins we are condemned to die but since Jesus came and was made sin for us, our sins were carried by Him to the cross (Hebrews 9:26-28) where He shed His blood for the redemption of our souls and forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7). 

In the Old Testament men took the spotless, and unblemished lamb to the temple to be offered by the Priest as a sin sacrifice so the sins of the man will be rolled back for one year (Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 4:32-34).  Each year they would have to offer up another lamb to push their sins back another year(5). 

Here in verse 19, we find that Christ is the Lamb which was offered for our sins.  It's offered not as a yearly offering but rather as an eternal sin offering.  The blood of Christ was shed so man could be forgiven his sins (Revelation 1:5) throughout history without taking animals to the priest for a sin offering.  Just as the OT sacrifice was to be perfect without blemish or flaw, Christ was without sin and spiritual blemish. 

We have to first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who has come in the flesh for the sole purpose of dying on the cross for us (1 John 4:1-3).  If one does not believe this Doctrine of Christ is not of Christ and we're not even to let them into our homes if they intend to talk about their 'religious beliefs'(2 John 1:7-11). 

When the earth was created, and man (Adam) sinned, the plan was set forth for Christ to come to die for man's sins.  When was His Blood to be the atonement for our sins?  in the "last times" or last days.  The last days are those days from the ressurection of Christ until the moment He returns for the 'catching up' of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:17) in what is refered to as the 'rapture'.  Of course, the last days and the is another study. 

In receiving salvation, we must believe (have faith) that Jesus is the Christ (son of God) and repent of our sins (Acts 2:38).  The word "repent" does not mean to whimper and whine as some think, but rather it's much simpler than that.  The word 'repent' comes from the Greek word 'metanoeo' [met-an-o-eh'-o] which means: "to reconsider, to think differently."  Literally it implies that we turn away from that sin by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).