Pastor Kevin Burden ~ Carter Creek Baptist Church, Greenville, KY ~ Sunday AM, March 2nd, 2008
I want to take some time over the next couple of weeks to examine something seldom considered today – “The Blood of Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” [2:13] “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
The Blood of Christ is essential to God’s plan of Salvation for man. Leviticus 17:11 “The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
The “Blood” is spoken of over 400 times in the bible. The BLOOD, when it refers either directly or symbolically to the blood of Christ, is at the very heart and core of the Bible.
Any departure from the biblical message on “the blood of Christ” is heresy and leads to apostasy.
The shedding of blood in the sacrifice of “Passover” (Ex 12) and the offering of the “Levitical” sacrifices (Lev 1-6) all spoke of the occasion when Jesus Christ would come and provide “remission of sins” through His blood.
Matthew 26:27-28 “He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
The Physiology of Blood: Leviticus 17:11, 14 “The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul…14For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof:”
1. The function of the blood is to carry life to the rest of the body. The five quarts of blood in your body is circulated throughout by the heart every 23 seconds. As the blood flows to the fixed cells of the body (muscle, nerve, gland, bone, connective tissue, etc…) it delivers life giving oxygen and nutrients and then carries away the waste products produced from the use of these.
2. There are different types of blood cells and activities:
Plasma – A fluid solution that acts as a vehicle for blood cells.
Platelets – A thin transparent oval shaped cell whose function is associated with the process of blood clotting.
Red cells – 5,000,000 per cubic millimeter, they carry fuel to the fixed tissue.
White cells – 6000 per cubic millimeter; they help to defend the body against infection.
Antibodies – Are produced in response to infection to prevent future infection.
3. As this chemistry of the blood performs these necessary task, so too the blood of Jesus Christ in the spiritual realm.
Jesus Christ is to every believer, the source of eternal life.
He is also the One who keeps cleansing us day by day.
1 John 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (Gr. Present passive)
He is the one that keeps us from falling into the sin again and again.
We face a continuous battle with infection (world, flesh, devil), but pleading the blood of Christ will deliver us.
1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Precious Blood of Christ is the blood that speaks. Hebrews 12:24 “To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
1. It speaks of man’s sin and guilt before God (Genesis 3:6-11, 21).
2. It speaks of deliverance from The Wrath to come – Exodus 12:13 “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”
3. The blood of Abel Speaks of Sin and Guilt, and its affect on man – Gen 4:1-6. There is an acceptable & unacceptable offering to God!
The Blood of Jesus Christ Speaks of Better Things. Hebrews 9:26 “Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” [12:24] “The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
#1. IT SPEAKS OF LOVE.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Colossians 1:13-14 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
#2. IT SPEAKS OF PURPOSE.
Hebrews 9:14-15 “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? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,…”
#3. IT SPEAKS OF SUFFERING.
Revelation 5:9 “They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.”
#4. IT SPEAKS OF SUBSTITUTION.
John 1:29 “John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
#5. IT SPEAKS OF REDEMPTION.
Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
#6. IT SPEAKS OF CLEANSING.
1 John 1:7 “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
#7. IT SPEAKS OF ACCESS.
Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
#8. IT SPEAKS OF PEACE.
Colossians 1:20 “Having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
#9. IT SPEAKS OF HEAVEN.
Revelation 7:14-15 “These are they which…have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”
