"The Cleansed Conscience"

  The Hebrew writer penned by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14) One verse speaks volumes of the value of a clear conscience. Without the blood cleansing the conscience, there is NO service to the Lord!

  When one is  haunted by guilt in their conscience, their efforts are to rid themselves of the guilt. They can't serve the Lord from freedom and love because guilt has them bound. Effort and energy are spent wanting to be free, hoping that by doing certain things they will find relief. Maybe one decides to read more of Scripture, pray daily or make a more concerted effort in Bible studies and worship. In all this, one serves only themselves!

  Why? Because in guilt, there is little to no dependency on the blood of Christ. Guilt creates within one an effort to clear themselves. The writer in the verse speaks of "dead works". Works  that can't produce life or get you right with God! The blood of Jesus is to effect complete inward freedom so one can serve the living God. Our defilement takes place within. Guilt takes place within. Our conscience has knowledge of us that no one else knows but God! God sends Jesus. Jesus enters into the perfect, spiritual tabernacle that was not made by the hands of man (Heb. 9:11). Jesus enters this tabernacle without the blood of animals but with His own blood with one objective: to obtain eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12).

  Under the first covenant (testament), God accepted the blood of animals to atone for sin. If God would accept sinful man by the blood of animals, how much more through the blood of Jesus? (Heb. 9:13-14). This new covenant God made with us is a covenant of cleansing completely by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus cleanses 100% of all our sins no matter how horrible. That's the promise! The result of faith in God's promise and the blood of Christ? "To cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!" Have you been to Jesus for His cleansing power?