"Time of Reformation"

 "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and canal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:10 KJV) 

  "God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him." (Ephesians 1:9-14 NLT)

 When you look up the word, "Reformation," you will be given the pictures of those who lived during the 16th century, as if those were the days when the religious revolution took place. Yes, there was a mighty work that took place, but the real Reformation was when Jesus died on that cross! There was something that took place, which nobody could explain, because it could only happen by God's hands! 

 What I am talking about is that veil between the two chambers, as the veil was torn from the top to bottom! This is something that God changed in an instant, the moment that Jesus died on that cross, the power of forgiveness came alive, and everything changed, at that very moment! No longer did man need to go through a priest, but the separation had been torn down by the Father, Himself!  

 Yesterday I heard a message about how Jesus died on the cross. Obviously, there are several different ways that people think that He died; some think it was from a ruptured heart, while others think it was from the terrible beating He received, prior to being nailed to the cross. Still, those who executed Him were somewhat amazed that He died so soon, as this type of execution was meant to take some time.

 The basic truth of the matter was spoken of by Jesus, when He spoke about being the Good Shepherd: "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." (John 10:17-18 NLT)

 To put it in the simplest terms: "The Jesus said, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46 NLT) So says the doctor...

"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy." (1 John 1:1-4 NLT)