What is bloodguilt?
.
Readers often wonder
what the Bible means when it speaks of “bloodguilt.”
Bloodguilt” is the
condition of being culpable for bloodshed or murder.
“Their bloodguilt, which I have not
pardoned, I will pardon. The Lord dwells in Zion!” Joel 3:21 (NIV)
Joel 3:21 is translated in a couple different ways, as
the following examples show:
“I will avenge their blood, blood I have
not avenged” (ESV)
“For I will cleanse their blood that I
have not cleansed” (KJV)
“For I will acquit them of the guilt of
bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted” (NKJV)
Is Israel being
acquitted or avenged?
Some translations say that God is forgiving someone of
“bloodguilt.”
Other translations say
that God is not forgiving someone and
punishing him accordingly.
The Amplified Bible may shed some light on the issue: “And I will cleanse and hold as innocent their blood and
avenge it, blood which I have not cleansed, held innocent, and avenged.”
Both are true: Israel is being forgiven, and God is
avenging them.
The idea is this:
Israel’s enemies had committed violence against the Jews as if Israel had been
worthy of death.
God promises that He
will avenge the deaths of His people, thereby declaring Israel innocent (forgiven).
When God dwells in
Zion, He will provide complete and final justice.
The NKJV translates
bloodguilt as “guilty of bloodshed.”
Murder is a horrendous
crime in the eyes of both man and God; to be “bloodguilty,” then, would be to deserve a severe punishment.
Yet this is the very sin that God says He will forgive and
avenge. His protection of His people is sure, and His grace is boundless.
Joel 3:21 refers
to a future time when the Messiah will rule after judging the nations.
From a New Testament
perspective, this parallels Jesus Christ’s 1,000-year millennial kingdom
following His Second Coming.
This promise of God’s
avenging His people reflects the teachings of other Jewish prophets.
Isaiah 35:4 says, “Your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine
retribution he will come to save you” (see also Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm
79:10; and Isaiah 63:4).
God will avenge the
enemies of His people and dwell with them forever.
This fitting conclusion to Joel’s book emphasizes
God’s justice and the promised blessing of dwelling with God for eternity.
Would you want to have a deeper relationship with God?
God has made it possible for you to know Him
and experience an amazing change in your own life by
receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins
have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life
and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning
again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for
my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to
rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to
your Word, I am now born again.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey
You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word
– the Bible.
Please use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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.“Your
Grace Still Amazes Me”
Phillips, Craig & Dean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXVUYC_ykwEPhillipsCraigandDean
lyrics
My faithful Father,
enduring friend
Your tender mercy is like a river with no end
It overwhelms me covers my sin
Each time I come into your presence I stand in wonder once again
Your tender mercy is like a river with no end
It overwhelms me covers my sin
Each time I come into your presence I stand in wonder once again
[Chorus:]Your grace still amazes me
Your love still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
your grace still amazes me
Your grace still amazes me
Oh patient savior, you make me whole
You are the author and the healer of my soul
What can I give you lord what can I say
I know there's no way to repay you only to offer you my praise
[Chorus:]Your grace still amazes me
Your love still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
Your grace still amazes me
It's deeper, it's wider, it's stronger, it's higher
It's deeper, it's wider, it's stronger, it's higher
Than anything my eyes can see
Your grace still amazes me
Your love still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Cause your grace still amazes me
Your grace still amazes me
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