Read the Red Line of His Blood

A few decades ago, a popular teaching instructed believers to "read the red lines in the Bible."

In other words, believers were told to take in the teachings of Jesus and live by them.

Let's take a look at some of the things that Jesus told His disciples and His listeners:

"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched." (Mark 9: 43)

and

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9: 23)

"Take up your cross daily. . "

Taking up a cross means that at the end of the journey, you will hang on that same cross. How many of us are prepared to hang on a Cross not just once but daily?!

I did not think so.

Jesus was not telling us what to do, or how to live. He was bringing the Law back to its pristine standard. He was speaking to a generation which had assumed that their nationality and obedience to the rules of the Pharisees assured them righteous standing:

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Luke 3: 8)

and

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 20)


The last thing that we should counsel any new believer to do is "red the read lines". The word of Jesus in many cases were bringing the law back to a standard which showed what the law was supposed to do:

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (Romans 3: 19)

"Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

"Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." (Romans 7: 12-13)

The law is not meant for righteous people, but only to show how unrighteous we are, not just in our actions but in our very being.

Then comes the Gospel:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)

We cannot be justified through the Law of Moses, not a chance. When we accept that the Law of Moses is beyond our keeping, then we are ready to receive the Good News that all our sins are forgiven.

The Red Blood of Jesus is what the Cross is all about. Let Christ in you, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1: 27), lead you in the path that He calls you to take.

Read the Red Line of His Blood, and receive that His life in you will accomplish everything that could not be done through the Law, which reached its pristine fullness in the earthly teachings of Jesus Christ.

Besides, when the Bible was first published in its original languages, there were no red letters!