6.21.2006

signifying by what kind of

Gal6:17 has a term I'd never seen before: the brand-marks of Jesus. This idea of a marking symbolizing your faith makes for a great sermon, I think. There's the point that the brand-marks aren't literal; Lord calls us in John13 to love one another, by that mark others would know we were His disciples. Point one says that the identifier Lord is looking for is love.

Point two can be the allusion to the Lord's own markings. Passion shows us all too clearly what the marks of Jesus are. Lord calls His believers in the SotM and in other places to bear our own cross. Those marks of suffering are to be shared by all. Point two says that the identifier Lord is looking for is perseverance under trial.

Point three can be the cleansing flow before the throne. Lord Almighty will look at you, look at your sin and see not darkness, but crimson-coated light. The mark of the blood of the Lamb says you are His, sealed for eternity. Point three says that the identifier Lord is looking for is His claimed blood.

Branding hurts; I've seen it done to creatures who scream in almost-human pitches. This one requires only submission, which hurts, I know. But the display of that mark is far better than the corporate logos you're paying dollars for, I tell you what. These marks are your ticket to eternity.

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