Last Monday was a day of remembering. The only problem is that too many people have forgotten. Amid the tweets & twitters, the video games, and shopping for school, too many Americans forget that, without the sacrifices of our military, we might not even have a school or church to go to.
So, I find it extremely appropriate that we’re having this Patriotic Sunday on the same day that we remember the Last Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ. Both are times of remembering – remembering those who shed their blood to free us from the tyranny of monarchs and tyrants, and the one who gave the last full measure of His blood to free us from the tyranny of sin and death.
Today we remember the blood, for without blood, there can be no life. That’s just as true in the Bible as in a hospital. Blood flows through the Bible just as it does through our veins. The blood of Christ keeps our faith alive.
It’s been said, “Cut the Bible anywhere and it will bleed.” Our Bible speaks of the blood 427 times. Without the blood, the Gospel is dead, and so are we. Holding His cup of wine, Jesus told His disciples, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Turn with me now and READ HEBREWS 9:13-15
The early church understood the blood. In the “Book of Acts”, there are 22 sermons recorded by four preachers, and all four give the same message – “the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” They all agree that His death – and the provision of “covering by the blood” – are essential to the Gospel.
• 1 John 1:7 says, “…the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, purifies us of all sin.” Wayne Watson once wrote– “God’s gaze always passes thru rose-colored glasses every time He looks on my heart.” The blood of Christ covers our sins from the sight of God.
It’s hard to see blood. It’s internal. Yet, each veteran of combat knows what it looks like. It’s the color of war and the price of victory – the full price paid by Jesus Christ for each person who calls upon His name for salvation.
I read once that, “The Bible paints the blood in broad strokes on a canvas, and then in minute detail. God’s Word breaks it down to the cellular level—the importance of the blood of Christ! …But even more important is that God sees the blood applied to our lives, and judgment passes over us.” So, now let’s put the blood of Christ under the microscope and consider The Power of His Blood.
1st: In Analysis: The Blood Is Perfect
The virgin birth of Christ established His righteousness.
Judas cried out. “I have betrayed innocent blood.”
Paul explained, “For God has made (Jesus), who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
Pontius Pilate washed his hands and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” And Hebrews 7 describes Jesus as, “…(the) one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”
A natural father would have imparted the sin-nature of Adam to Christ, and His death could not have provided redemption for anyone but himself. The virgin birth is absolutely essential to the salvation of our souls. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was born of a virgin and without original sin. Matthew 1:23 quotes the prophecy of Isaiah, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, ‘God with us.’” Now, look again and consider,
2nd: In Application: The Blood Is Pure. Now turn to Rom. 5:6-8, and mark this in your Bible (Pause): “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Only the blood of Christ is pure.
When Dr. Curtis Hutson was struggling with cancer, he went through a treatment called “Keylation.” Keylation is similar to dialysis in that the blood is removed from the body and cleansed in a machine that removes the impurities, and then it’s pumped back into the body. This treatment prolonged Dr. Hutson’s life until his own blood was purged of germs and disease and was able to sustain him on its own. So too, when the pure blood of Christ covers our sins, we are cleansed before God, and we receive New Life.
Peter wrote, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” And because it is pure, it is purifying!
3rd: In Action: The Blood Is Perpetual. The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were continuous and necessary year-after-year. They could only provide forgiveness and pardon temporarily – only until the perfect sacrifice of Christ was made for the covering of our sin could forgiveness be forever.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of Christ as one, “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” And 10:12 says, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” It was done.
Even to this day, young men and women sacrifice their lives for our worldly freedoms, but the death of Christ set in motion an eternal freedom for those who trust in Him. We are offered the gift of eternal life purchased with His blood.
4th: In Accomplishment: The Blood Is Powerful!
The song writer wrote:
Would you be free from the burden of sin? There is power in the Blood.
Would you over evil a victory win? There’s wonderful power in the Blood.
Revelation 5:9 says, “(The saints) triumphed over (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb.” At God’s appointed time, our brothers and sisters in Christ will one day overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb. You know THAT’S gonna take a lot of power!
False religions have always denied the power in His blood. Christian Science, for one, teaches that, “The material blood of Jesus is no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon the cursed tree than when it was flowing through His veins.” But the Bible clearly states, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (of sin).” The power of the blood can also be seen,
5th: In Acquittal: The Blood Is Permanent
There was once a woman at a photography studio who told the photographer: “Do me justice.” The photographer replied, “You don’t need justice. You need mercy!”….. The fact is that we all need mercy! Before the righteousness of God, we are all guilty. Yet, the blood of Christ acquits us of our sins.
Now “Acquit” is a heavy word. It means “to pay off, to free, to absolve” – not only our past sins, but also our present and future sins are put under the blood by God’s grace. By His mercy, his blood “acquits” us of ALL sin.
Isaiah said, “(God has) swept away your offenses like a cloud: return unto me; for I have redeemed you.” King David said, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” God promised. “Their sins and lawless acts, I will remember no more.” If you ask God, “Lord, did you even forgive that sin from last year?” He will say, “What sin?”
This is not to say we can just go ahead and sin…a truly saved person won’t have that attitude. But we can know that, despite our very best efforts, we are sinners, and will yet sin, but we don’t have to get saved again. Do we need to confess it to God and make it right? Of course we do! Each day of our lives, we’ll need daily foot washings, but praise God that our “one-time all-over bath” secures the repentant heart from all sin: past, present, and future! “The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” . . . Now, look again,
6th: In Appraisal: The Blood Is Precious We love to sing, “Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know; Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” Peter used precious to describe the Blood of Christ. He said, “But you know that it was not by perishable things … that you were redeemed from your empty way of life …but with the precious Blood of Christ, ….”
7th: In Aggression: The Blood Is Protective
In Exodus 12, the blood was sprinkled on the door posts of the Jewish homes just as the Lord had instructed them. When the angel of death came bringing death to the first born in each family, the Jews were protected by the blood.
It was actually their faith that protected them. They believed the Word God had given to Moses. They believed it enough to act on it. They did as the Lord instructed, and they reaped a great benefit. God had said, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
We still speak of being “under the Blood.” The judgment will not fall on those who have placed their faith in Christ by accepting Him as their Savior. If you are not under the Blood of Jesus Christ, I plead with you to do so now before the angel of death comes to your house.
Do you get the picture? Our military veterans have protected us for this moment – this time and place, but only the blood of Jesus can protect you for the eternity which lies ahead. Can you see the blood of Christ covering you? Still more important, can God see it covering you? If not, ….. then all He sees is your sin.
You need to make sure you’re covered. Your good deeds won’t do it. Your church attendance won’t do it. Only your conviction and declaration of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will do . . . . Just one application – will do!
Hebrews 9:28 says: “…and (Jesus) WILL APPEAR a second time, not to bear (our) sins, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
PLEASE JOIN WITH ME IN PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive us our sins, we pray, and acquit us by the blood of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. All of our hope and faith we place in Christ our Lord and our Savior. In obedience to Your written Word, and by the witness of the Holy Spirit within us, we seek to serve You alone and to glorify Your Name. In the Holy name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
