An illustration to show how Christ’s blood covers our sins: Use a flip chart (having previously used a candle to draw an ‘invisible’ cross in white wax in the centre of paper). The things that we do wrong, our bad behaviour – what the Bible calls sin – are like our dirty clothes. (Ask the congregation): What are some of the bad things that people do, that the Bible tells us are wrong; what are some of the sins that people commit? Shout out examples and we will write them up on the flip chart. (Afterwards say) When we are really sorry for our sin and we accept Jesus’ invitation to forgive us; when we repent and turn to Christ, God wipes out our sins, he forgives us and makes us clean; like new people. Instead of being stained with sin, we become clothed in Christ’s righteousness – in the goodness of Jesus. (Take red water-based paint and a brush, and paint over the paper to obliterate the sins and at the same time reveal the wax cross.) And so when God looks at us, He no longer sees our dirty clothes – they have been removed, obliterated, wiped out. Instead He sees our wedding clothes; He sees the cross; He sees that we have been clothed with Christ; we have responded to His invitation to be our Lord and Saviour and so we are accepted.