Illustration: “At a great parliament of religions, held in Chicago many years ago, practically every known religion was represented.
During one session, Dr. Joseph Cook, of Boston, suddenly rose and said: ‘Gentlemen, I beg to introduce to you a woman with a great sorrow. Bloodstains are on her hands, and nothing she has tried will remove them. The blood is that of murder. She has been driven to desperation in her distress. Is there anything in your religion that will remove her sin and give her peace?’ A hush fell upon the gathering. Not one of the company replied.
Raising his eyes heavenwards, Dr. Cook then cried out. ‘John can you tell this woman how to get rid of her awful sin?’ The great preacher waited as if listening for a reply. Suddenly he cried, ‘Listen John speaks; ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7).
Not a soul broke the silence; the representatives of Eastern religions and Western cults sat dumb. In the face of human need, the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone could meet the need. The sin of race demanded the blood of Calvary.”
Introduction & Historical Background:
A. God used blood for several reasons:
Covered the sins of Adam & Eve-
Genesis 3: 21 “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”
God had to take a sacrifice from animals to cover the nakedness & sin (temporarily) of the first Adam because the sin of humanity cannot be redeemed permanently by the blood of animals.
The second Adam – Jesus gave the sacrifice with His blood for covering the sin of mankind for ever (permanently).
At Mount Moriah to proclaim God as Yahweh Jireh-
God providing a substitute for the burnt offering of Abraham
In Egypt for Protection of His people - Passover – Exodus 12: 21 - 30
Blood of the Passover lamb placed on the lentil to protect the children of Israel
Tabernacle
Blood of the Goat of the sin offering sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat
Calvary
The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, shed for the sins of man
Is it still the Blood? ………....
B. But sooner or later, somebody had to wonder how the blood of bulls & goats could take away their sins.
Let’s face it, the only link these animals had to the sins of the offerers was that these animals were owned by the sinner. These goats and bulls and lambs (etc.) had no tie in to what was going on in the lives of their owners.
There was nothing inherently powerful in the blood of these animals that would offer forgiveness to sinners.
That’s why Hebrews 10:4 tells us “… it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Their blood couldn’t forgive anybody.
But God used their blood (the blood of animals) to help us realize that there would come an Ultimate Blood Sacrifice that WOULD remove all of our sins, and that ultimate blood sacrifice was the blood of Jesus. As I John 1:7 tells us, it’s “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin”
Where as the blood of goats and bulls for 4000 years has not met the requirements for the fulfilling of the law, HIS BLOOD IS SUFFICIENT. There is wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb of God, power to take away the sins of the world.
What Power does the Blood of Christ have?
1. Power to Redeem (vs. 11 – 12)
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
A. The law was hard; It was almost a curse upon mankind. No one could be pure enough, good enough, holy enough to obey the entire law.
B. The law held men in bondage, and showed every imperfection in humanity.
C. But the blood of Jesus freed us from the curse of sin and death.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
D. The law had no completion
– Today a lamb, tomorrow a dove, next week a goat, the next a bull.
– It never stopped, constantly trying to cover the sins of a nation.
– The priest had to enter the Holy of Hollies once a year every year to sprinkle blood upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel.
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
– But one Cry from Jesus and God was no longer separated from man by a veil but as he cried out “It is finished” the veil was torn from top to bottom and now man could be redeemed by the New Covenant of The Blood of Jesus.
– And now man is no longer separated from the presence of God by this blood.
Hebrews 10:16 this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Hebrews 10:17 and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
- There is wonder working power in the blood of the lamb
Illustration: A family was involved in a serious accident. Mike, the younger of two brothers involved, was badly injured and needed a blood transfusion. Mike’s big brother, Danny, who was almost eight, was the perfect blood type. His father sat down with him and explained that his little brother was going to die but if Danny would give his little brother some blood that mike would be just fine. Danny sat and thought for a minute and then said o.k. Dad I will do this for my brother. They took Danny into the operating room and hooked up the needle to his arm and the blood from his body began to flow to his little brother. Everything had gone wonderfully and the nurse removed the needle from little Danny’s arm. Danny with a tear in his eye looked at his father and said, “When do I die?” The father suddenly realized with a shock that Danny had misunderstood his explanation of giving blood. Danny thought he was giving all of his blood to save the life of his little brother! He thought that he would die after the transfusion was over. Yet he still had agreed to help his little brother.
2. Power to Sanctify / Purify (v 13)
Not only cleansing our conscience but cleansing our sin and making us whole – His blood makes us white as snow.
- The blood of Jesus His Son, purifies us from all sin refers to the ongoing work of sanctification within the believer.
- What does the word sanctification mean?
- Sanctification means to make holy, to consecrate, to separate from the world, and to be set apart from sin so that we may have intimate fellowship with God and serve Him gladly.
- I Peter 1:2 says, “Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His Blood: Grace and peace by yours in abundance.”
- We have learned to words this past two weeks, and they are justification and sanctification.
- Both take place with the blood of Christ.
- Justification means to be righteous in God’s sight and sanctification means to be holy
- Both happen instantly, but sanctification is not only instantly after salvation, it is also a progressive work.
- Meaning it’s a lifelong process by which we continue to put to death the old sinful nature according to Galatians 5
- We continue to grow into Christ’s likeness 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
- We also grow in grace, 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
- We will also exercise a greater love for God and others. Matt 22:37-39 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Illustration: The story is told of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Savior and applied for membership in a local church. "Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your Life?" inquired an old deacon. "Yes, sir," she replied. "Well, are you still a sinner?" "To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever." "Then what real change have you experienced?" "I don’t quite know how to explain it," she said, "except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved. I’m a sinner running from sin!" she was received into the fellowship of the church, and she proved by her consistent life that she was truly converted.
3. Power to Cleanse / Transform (v 14)
A. It is the blood of Jesus that when applied to our lives makes the chiefest, vilest of sinners, transforms them body soul and spirit into a new creature formed in the image of God’s Holiness.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
B. Saul, a murderer, than tried to destroy the church of the living God had an encounter with the power of that blood and was forever transformed into “Paul, an apostle of Christ”
C. The thief on the cross had an encounter with the power of the blood of Jesus, and was transformed from that of a condemned man into a saint dwelling in Paradise.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
D. There is no soul so gone that the power of the blood of Jesus cannot transform his sinful nature into the desire for the holiness of God
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Illustration: When evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791) was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have something more to give you." The surprised robber paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here’s something to remember: ’The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!’" The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.
Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before! "I owe it all to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend," Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!"
4. Power to give Eternal Life (v 15)
A. Blood is our source of life; without it coursing through our veins life will cease in this physical body.
B. You cannot survive without blood
C. Without the blood of Christ applied to our spirit & soul we are bound for the certainty of the second death
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
D. Life, more abundant can only be found in the power of His blood.
John 10:10 The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Two Important Truths
- Will Demands A Death (vv. 16-17)
“For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (17) For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”
“Testament” could be translated will. If you have made a will and you are still alive, your will does nothing for anyone. It doesn’t operate until you die. Now the reference here is to a will that was made by a man who died. He couldn’t save anyone as long as He lived. It is not the life of Christ as exemplary as it was that saves – it is the death of Christ which saves you.
- Forgiveness Demands Blood (vv. 18-22)
“Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. (19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, (20) saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” (21) Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.”
The writer of Hebrews quoting from the book of Exodus (24:5-8) tells us that the Old Covenant was instituted with blood. From Exodus and Hebrews we understand that everything of significance was literally soaked in blood – half on the altar and half on the people and the scroll. It was not a pretty sight – the altar, the people and the book dripped with blood. The two great institutions of the Old Testament, the law and the tabernacle were both inaugurated with blood.
From this lavish use of blood used in inaugurating the two great institutions of the Old Testament we are given the principle found in verse twenty-two, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Illustration: Dr. Felix Ruh, a Jewish doctor in Paris, had watched as his granddaughter died of “black diphtheria” and vowed that he would find a cure for this dreaded disease that had take the life of his granddaughter.
The idea of combating germs was still just a theory when Dr. Ruh invited the area’s scientist to his farm to watch as he swabbed twenty horses’ nostril, tongue, and throat with the germs that he had cultured with “Black Diphtheria.”
One by one the horses began to die until there was only one horse left. The scientist all gave up and left. But Dr Ruh remained with his assistant who watched the horse through out the night. When the fever of the horse began to break he woke Dr. Ruh. The doctor watched as the horse fought off the germs and by the next day was standing and eating as if nothing had ever been wrong.
At this Dr. Ruh killed the horse and extracted all of the blood from this animal that had overcome this disease, and rushed to the municipal hospital. Forcing their way passed the superintendent and the guards and went into the ward where three hundred babies lay, segregated to die from the “Black Diphtheria.” With the blood of the horse, they forcibly inoculated every one of the babies. All but three lived and recovered completely.
They were saved by the blood of an over comer.
5. Power to Deliver / Remission of our sins (v 22)
A. It is the power of the blood of Jesus that breaks the yoke of bondage of sin from our lives
B. He does not just forgive us and leave us in the grips of Satan but by the power of the blood of Christ we experience freedom from sin.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
C. What ever Satan has wrapped around your life and seems to be choking the very life out of you with:
- The Blood of Christ can break and set you free
D. But not just to deliver but to OVERCOME.
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Conclusion:-
Illustration: “On Wednesday, January 13, 1982, an Air Florida Boeing 737 jet left the National Airport in Washington, D.C., during severely cold weather. Moments later it hit the 14th Street Bridge and crashed into the icy waters of the Potomac River. The tragic accident took lives of seventy-eight passengers and crew.
Immediately after the crash six passengers held to a piece of the plane, trying to stay afloat in the icy water. Helicopters from the Coast Guard and Park Police came to rescue these survivors. They lowered a lifesaving ring. One of the men caught the ring and five times handed it to his companions. All five made it safely into the helicopter.
As the helicopter returned for a final trip to rescue this man, he disappeared beneath the water. The survivors did not even know his name. He gave his life that they might live. His was an effective but costly sacrifice.”
Does Christ’s Blood still have the same power today?
The reason Jesus’ blood has the power to remove sins is because it is HIS Blood.
