"As Ye Know That Ye Were Not Redeemed With Corruptible Things"

…………….Dr Joseph Cook illustration…………………….

In 1893 they had the first World’s Fair held in Chicago, there was an exhibit entitled "The Parliament of Religions." Dr. Joseph Cook represented the Christian religion.

One by one, representatives of the various world religions spoke in behalf of their beliefs.

Dr. Cook was the last to speak.

He turned to English literature for his example and told the story of Lady Macbeth.

She had blood on her hands from murder, and that represented, in Shakespeare’s mind, the evidence, the consciousness of her sin.

There was the famous place in the play where she said, "Out, out, with the spot I say"

She could not get that spot of blood off because it was from murder. It was still on her,

The people there knew of that great play.

Dr. Cook said, "Gentlemen, does your religion have anything that will remove the spot of blood from Lady Macbeth’s hand?" And he waited for anyone to stand and say,

"My religion has a way to remove the blood from Lady Macbeth’s hand," but none did.

The fact of the matter is there is no other religion in the world, or in history, that has the power to remove that bloody spot from Lady Macbeth’s hand. And so, when it was established that no one else had an answer, finally Dr. Cook said,

"The religion of Christ has." Then he quoted, "...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7). You see, the only way you can ever have a truly clean heart is to have it cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

That's the message today. It's not a new message, it's not a modern message, it's the old old story of Jesus Christ who shed His blood - but it's as new today as it has ever been!

Now why is that? Because, the Bible says in Ezekiel 18:4 the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God hasn’t revoked His word. God never changes…He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Gods judgment is still in the future for the wicked. If they would give any thought about it at all, it should strike terror in their hearts.

Its said that we live in a new age with new thoughts and new values but, God hasn’t changed. There is no reason He should change. He knows the beginning to the end. He is the first and the last.

He didn’t learn anything from reading the newspaper this morning or watching the 6 o’clock news. It didn’t give Him any information at all because, He knows all things and God has not changed… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

He hasn’t changed His mind on killing new born babies….He hasn’t changed His mind on gay rights..the only right they have is to be forgiven by confessing of sin and asking Jesus into their heart and leaving their old self at the foot of the cross. He hasn’t changed His mind on His judgment of Hollywood corrupting our children and grandchildren’s mind by demon possessed movies and junk on TV.

He hasn’t changed His mind on the judgment of the unsaved.

But best of all He hasn’t changed His mind on how we can be redeemed because, just as these things of the world will be gone soon…1 Peter chapter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ

The Bible says that we were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver or gold. Silver and gold can be purified by putting it in a fire and burning away the impurity’s. but they will corrupt in time. If you have silverware you know that it will tarnish and corrupt over time. We were not redeemed with corruptible things. But with the precious blood of Christ

Let's look at verse of Isaiah chapter 1:18

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

God says these words: 'Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord'. It's an invitation, God is calling, God is saying: 'Come to me! Come, I'm calling, I'm inviting, I'm asking you to come to me'. Now, as a Christian, when I look at that verse it speaks to me of a day in my life when I heard - not verbally, but I felt God calling me. Not calling me to service, not to the ministry, nothing like that - but God actually calling me first to Himself, to know what it is to have my sins forgiven, to know what it is to have a real relationship from day-to-day with Almighty God