During camp this past summer, one of the staff’s favorite worship songs was “Only By the Blood.”
The song asks:
“Does anybody want to be holy,
Righteous, purified, and spotless?
Let me tell you,
It’s only by the blood.
Does anybody want to be worthy,
Forgiven, justified, really living?
Let me tell you
It’s only by the blood.”
Only by what Jesus has done for us can we know what it means to really live.
And that’s what God clearly tells us is the main point of the New Testament books of 1 and 2 Timothy.
1 Timothy 3:14-16
“I am writing you these instructions so that. . . you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.”
Just as Jesus showed godliness through his life in the flesh, the church will make godliness visible to the world around us. Since our God is alive and imparts to us his earth-transcending life, we, by laying up treasure for ourselves in heaven, take hold in the here-and-now of that which is truly life (1 Timothy 6:19).
If you want to experience the righteousness and forgiveness that will help you really live, download our free 1 and 2 Timothy study! The study is versatile and can be used for your youth group lessons or you could recommend it to youth for personal reflection and study. You could even use the study in your own quiet time. Regardless, we pray it is a blessing to you and helps you realize more of the abundant life Jesus provides!
