Series: Jesus Is Better- The Better Covenant [#4]
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Hebrews 9:11-22
Introduction:
Another hymn about the blood of Jesus is “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus”. This song used to be sung differently than we sing it today. The leader would sing the 1st line: “What can wash away my sin” and the congregation would sing, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”.
Jesus Christ came to bring repentance. As the result of repentance, He gives forgiveness and remission of sin. The blood of Jesus Christ is what saves us. It doesn’t matter that we belong to a church because it is the blood of Jesus Christ that brings forgiveness, not church membership. Some say, “I’ve been baptized,” and that’s good; but God isn’t looking for water, He’s looking for blood. Some say, “Let me tell you about all the good things I have done”. That’s fine; but it will not bring forgiveness and remission of sins. God is not looking for works, He’s looking for blood. He’s looking for the sacrificial blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:11-12 (NIV)
“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Jesus shed His blood…
1. To obtain eternal redemption.
Our sins had to be paid for. The high priest entered into the Holy of Holies and the presence of God through the blood of goats and calves; but it was temporary. Jesus secured our redemption once and for all through His perfect sacrifice of Himself.
Hebrews 9:13-14 (NIV)
“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
Jesus shed His blood…
2. By choice.
There was a choice involved in the death of Christ. He offered Himself. He shed His blood freely for us. The animal victims never had a choice whether or not they were to die. They didn’t even know it was happening. They simply died under compulsion of the law. They died because the Law said they had to die. They had no willingness. Men who sacrificed those animals knew they were obeying God; but the animals were forced to die. Jesus knew what He was doing. He chose to give His life for us. No man took it from Him. He made a rational choice. Jesus Christ was perfectly God and perfectly man. He had perfect wisdom and perfect understanding. Jesus Christ chose to die. He knew why there must be a blood sacrifice even though the men who put Him to death didn’t know what they were doing, He chose to die.
Hebrews 9:15-17 (NIV)
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.”
Jesus shed His blood…
3. And died.
As we read this passage, we become aware of the fact of death. In order for us to experience redemption, there must be an end to physical life. Shedding of blood is the result of the penalty for sin. The wages of sin is death- The shedding of blood. When Adam and Eve sinned, God killed an innocent animal to clothe them. There in the presence of God, they saw an innocent victim give up its life for their sin. When the blood was gone, the animal was dead. Its blood was shed in payment for their sin. That’s what Jesus did for us- He died.
Hebrews 9:18-21 (NIV)
“This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.”
Jesus shed His blood…
4. To put the New Covenant into effect.
It is important to notice the order of events here. What a tremendous picture this is of redemption. The shed blood of the sacrificial victim was central to the worship of ancient Israel.
The blood was sprinkled on…
? The Book of Law.
Praise God- There is the blood on every page of the Word of God. If that were not so, this Book would only be about judgments and commandments. It would call only for the condemnation of man; but the Book has been sprinkled throughout with the blood of redemption. The story of the cross is written across every page of the Bible. The Word of God tells us of the grace and mercy of God. Sacrificial blood was sprinkled on the Book.
The blood was sprinkled on…
? The Tabernacle and vessels of the ministry.
Application for our day is very practical. When we come and worship, we don’t sing with perfect musicians, listen to a perfect preacher, or study under the perfect teacher in Sunday School. Every one of us has a sinful nature; but praise God, the vessels of the ministry have been sprinkled with the blood. They have been touched with the blood of Jesus Christ. When we sing, preach, teach, and share together we do so because God washes us in the blood. He purified us and sanctified us. The Spirit of God washes away the imperfections. God uses the imperfect vessels; because those vessels have been cleansed in the blood. The church is not a place for perfect people. It is the place for sinners, sinners who have been washed in the blood.
The blood was sprinkled on…
? All of the people.
As recipients of God’s provision, they received the symbolic covering of shed blood. The blood was sprinkled on the Book, vessels of ministry, and upon the people. That is good news for today, as it was then. God has provided for our cleansing and for our perfection.
Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
Jesus shed His blood…
5. For the forgiveness of sin.
Our text goes on to say that without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness of sin. That’s the goal of the blood. That’s the purpose for which Jesus died. He died to provide forgiveness from our penalty of sin. It provides freedom.
Conclusion:
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
