Jesus said:

“I am come that they might have forgiveness, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Is that really what He said?  No, of course not.

Forgiveness of committed sins does not save a man from his sins, in the same way that washing the mud off a pig does not save the pig from getting dirty again.

Only the life of Christ, His blood transfused into us, can save us from the corruption of spiritual death, which we all inherit.

The blood of Jesus gives life into the human spirit once again.  With Life Eternal now in us, we can be saved from sin.

That is why Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life!”

Saved from sin by the blood!

Deut. 12:23

This is a potent little phrase, taken out of one verse.

How is a man saved?

By the blood, of course.

What does “saved by the blood” mean?

Salvaged by the life of Christ!

Christ saves (salvages, rescues from ruin) me by putting his blood (life, Spirit) on the altar (my heart), thus cleansing it (purging, catharizing) it from sin and self.

His life conquers my death!

Ok, the picture is falling together in my mind.  As soon as the Lord opens my eyes for a few pieces that are still missing, I hope to be able to post here the complete story of redemption (purchasing back a lost possession-again by the blood, life, of Jesus) and salvation by grace (I didn’t deserve His Spirit that freed me from the power of sin, it was a free gift!)

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should not take away (remove from the heart) sins, but the blood (life of Christ poured into me) could indeed sanctify my selfish heart!

More later, God permitting.

The promise makes prayer bold, for God’s word cannot fail. Fulfillment is as certain as past events are fixed, and the future becomes a present to such faith.

Prayer, when it prevails, has about it a boldness, a holy audacity, which reminds us of the prophet whose plea was “Do not disgrace the Throne of Thy Glory!”  When a saint understands that prayer has three intercessors—the interceding Spirit within, the interceding suppliant, and the interceding Christ before the Throne—he feels himself but the mere channel through whom a current passes, whose source is the Holy Spirit in his heart, whose final outpour is through our great High Priest into the bosom of the Father. He loses sight of himself in the thought of the divine stream, its spring, and its ocean. How can he but be bold?

Prayer becomes no more mere lame and timid asking—it is claiming and laying hold of blessing, as a returning stream from the heart of God, pouring back into and through the heart of the supplicant. While he calls, God answers—there is conversation, intercourse, and intercommunication. Prayer is not only speaking to God, but hearing Him speak in return. As a Japanese convert said, it is like the old-fashioned well, where one bucket comes down while another goes up—only in this case it is the full bucket the descends.
A true missionary has to learn such prayer, and it is such prayer that brings him the conscious presence promised by his Master, with its outcome of divine wisdom and strength. It is such prayer that brings to our aid that consummate preacher, the Holy Spirit, whose divine oratory convinces and persuades—who has the power of revelation, demonstration, and illumination—who can flash instant light into the darkest mind and command life to the dead.

-A.T. Pierson

From a letter by John Wesley to Joseph Cownley, an early Methodist  preacher.

I see a danger you are in, which, perhaps, you do not see yourself.  Is it not most pleasing to me, as well as you, to be always preaching of the love of God?  And is there not a time when we are peculiarly led thereto, and find a peculiar blessing therein?

Without doubt, so it is.  But yet it would be utterly wrong and unscriptural to preach of nothing else.

Let the law always prepare for the gospel.  I scarce ever spoke more  earnestly here [he was in Ireland at the time of writing] of the love of God in Christ than last night.  But it was after I had been tearing the unawakened in pieces. Go thou and do likewise.  It is true the love of God in Christ alone feeds His children.

But even they are to be guided, as well as fed.  Yes, and often doctored too.  And the bulk of our hearers must be purged before they are fed.  Else we only feed the disease.

Beware of all honey.  It is the best extreme; but it is an extreme.  I am your affectionate brother,

John Wesley