Intro
It’s summertime and the living is easy....... We all seem to have sunshine and BBQ’s, Boating and bicycles on the brain. We all love summer.... We all love holidays.
I know its summertime, but I want us to timewarp back to Easter time for a few minutes this morning.........
During the Easter period we think about how Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane
How he was unjustly tried before the Temple Rulers, then by Herrod and then before Pilate.
We thought about how the Roman soldiers gambled for his clothing.
How they mocked him…
How they tortured and humiliated him…
How they stuck thorns into his head.
How they nailed him to a Cross and left him to die…..
How they stabbed a spear into his side….
Now Today – in this summer season - AFTER we’ve just thought about his suffering afresh
After we have mourned his death,
after we have CELEBRATED HIS RESURRECTION,
lets just pause for a few moments…… to think about HIS BLOOD. The importance of the blood, the purpose of the blood and the power of the blood to change our lives.
This morning, may each of us – reflect on the centrality of HIS BLOOD to our faith.
I pray that we will, once again, claim HIS BLOOD for our cleansing and healing and restoration.
I pray today that we will leave this place and GO FORWARD to PREACH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD by word & by deed as we live out our lives!!
The Apostle Paul said, “We preach Christ Crucified…..” I challenge you to ask yourself….”Do I really??”
[Pause]
The fact of the matter is that our gospel – our Good News - is NOTHING without the Blood!
A Gospel without atonement through the blood of Jesus Christ - is NO GOSPEL AT ALL!!
Christianity without Salvation through the Blood is a lie from the Devil!!! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!
If Satan had his way, no preacher would ever stand and preach the blood of Jesus Christ. Why?
Because...”The blood of Jesus Christ, [Gods] Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)
Satan loves it when people think they can get to heaven by doing good works – by going to church and by ‘doing the best they can’ - These are lies from the father of lies himself.
What can wash away my sin, Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again- Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow
NO OTHER FOUNT I KNOW – nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Romans 3:24-25 says that we, “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”
Faith in his blood is the only way to salvation.
A few years back, one of the main Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland removed all references to the Blood of Jesus from their songbooks and hymnals.
The head of this denomination said that he wanted to attract more members to his church by moving away from this ‘slaughter-house’ religion.
Why do people find the blood of Jesus so offensive??
Why do so many Christian’s want to ‘sanitise’ the work that was done of the cross?
Why do so many Christians fervently magnify the life of Jesus?
Why do they preach the teachings of Jesus?
Why do they expound the character and personality of Jesus?
BUT THEY SHY AWAY FROM HIS BLOOD!!!!
To take the Blood of Jesus Christ out of the Christian faith simply cannot be DONE!!!
If you want to use such vivid language – Christianity IS a ‘SLAUGHTER-HOUSE’ RELIGION!!!
Jesus was slaughtered for YOU!!
He was butchered for ME!!
He was massacred for the millions of lost people, right outside this building, who are going straight to hell – if we don’t tell them what Christ has done for them!!!
[Pause]
Before we leave this place this morning, let’s think just how IMPORTANT that blood is:-
“Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented HIM as a sacrifice of atonement, through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD”
FAITH IN HIS BLOOD – The blood is the object of our faith! It is through the blood that we have forgiveness!!
Our text from Hebrews clearly says…”without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”
NO BLOOD - NO FORGIVENESS!!
If we read the Old Testament – the Blood is there!!
If we read the New Testament – His blood is there!!
To take the Blood of Jesus out of our faith,
Will leave us with a Bible without a heart!!
A Gospel without POWER
A SAVIOUR WITHOUT SALVATION!!!
Because of the Blood there is HOPE
Because of the Blood there is Mercy
Because of the Blood there is SALVATION
I would say the Blood is pretty important stuff – wouldn’t you?
So what’s its purpose??
Romans 5:9 says, “Since we have now been Justified by his blood, how much more shall we be SAVED from God’s wrath...”
Jesus shed his blood to save us from wrath! That’s good news, isn’t it? That’s the Gospel! Jesus took the punishment so we wouldn’t have to!
There’s an old song that says, “I should have been crucified, I should have suffered and dies, I should have hung on the cross in disgrace – but Jesus God’s son took my place!!
Isaiah 53:5 says “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed.
1Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
So the PURPOSE of the blood is to pay the penalty and bring us to God. The blood of Jesus Christ was the permanent solution to the sin problem.
The POWER of the blood means that there is HOPE for the world! It is through the blood that we are made right – Justified!
Just as if I’d never sinned!
Romans 9:5 says, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
Through the blood the righteousness, the goodness of Christ is credited to us! That means we are made holy - we are made holy through the blood!
The POWER of the blood enables us to come into the very presence of God! Flash back to the Easter story again – remember how the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom?
This gave us – all of humanity - free access to the Holy of Holies – free access to the places where God dwells! We come into God’s presence, through the blood!
Hebrews 10:19 says, “Therefore.... we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus”
There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb!
Tell me….. How can blood-washed believers NOT go out and proclaim this glorious message?
How can we keep such good news to ourselves??
How can we float through life apathetically when so many need US to tell them about all this stuff.
What about you this morning??
Consider the scripture verses that we’ve shared and tell me honestly, would you move away from this ‘slaughter-house’ religion - or do you embrace it?
In The Salvation Army – the blood stains our banner – it’s even spelt out on our banner – let us live under the blood. Let us die under the blood. Let us reign for all eternity, through the blood – Hallelujah!!
As for me…
I have a source of strength when I am weak,
That takes me through when life is pressing in
I have a source of power from above
I’m covered over by a shield of love.
I claim the blood Jesus shed on Calvary
Those precious bloodstains were made there just for me
For all my sin, my sickness and my pain
When I need healing, I claim those precious bloodstains.
I do not know how others make it through
Who never go to Calvary like I do
For there’s a cleansing healing stream that flows
With peace that only his redeemed can know.
Have you claimed the blood this morning? If not, then do so as we sing......
If you have already claimed that blood, then claim it again.......
