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Illustration
When evangelist John Wesley 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” pointing a tract to him. The surprised robber paused. “My friend,” said Wesley, “You may live to regret this sort of life later. If you ever do, here’s something and remember: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!’” The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words and the tract might bear fruit.
Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service. A stranger approached him. He was surprised to learn that this man was the thief. The one who robbed him. Now who has become a believer in Christ and a successful businessman. “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!”
The Bible is the living Word of God and all through the Bible, it speaks of the blood of Jesus.
Someone said, “Cut the Bible anywhere and it will bleed.”
The blood is spoken of 427 times in our Bible. The OT spoke of the blood of the animal which pointed to Jesus’ blood and also the NT directly speaks about the blood of Jesus Christ.
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. (Matthew 26:28 Hebrews 9:22)
Colossians 1:14
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold ………..but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
1 John 1:7
…… and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
The early church understood the blood. All through the Acts of the Apostles, as they also preached the same message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They understood that His death and the provision of “covering by the blood” was the essential ingredient of the Gospel. Jesus shed his blood for us so that we can be covered by the blood of Jesus.
Illustration
Have you looked through sunglasses? The world outside looks different than the naked eye, isn’t it? This is how God looks at us. God’s gaze passes through red color glasses every time he looks at us. He basically looks at us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. All those of us who have asked God to forgive our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The blood is internal. There should be hurt to see blood. That is why for some it is hard to see blood. Jesus certainly went through that hurt and has covered us with his blood. Today, we are going to study about the blood of Jesus Christ.
1. The Blood of Jesus Christ is Perfect
If you analyze the blood of Jesus, it is perfect.
Judas cried out after he betrayed Jesus:
Matthew 27:4
“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Now, see what Pilate had to say when he was trying Jesus Christ:
John 18:38
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this, he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
Jesus Himself said:
John 8:46
Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
Hebrews 7:26
Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
1 Peter 2:22
He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
1 John 3:5
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
The Bible says the blood of Jesus Christ is perfect. But if Jesus Christ had a natural father, he would have imparted the sinful nature of Adam to him and his death would have provided no redemption. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was born of a virgin. The virgin birth is absolutely essential to the salvation of our souls. Basically that means Jesus did not have original sin. Nor was he conceived in sin. The virgin birth of Christ established His righteousness, his sinless blood. After being born without sin, Jesus did not sin in thought, word, or deed. He kept himself without sin.
Matthew quotes from Isaiah and says:
Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” See the Bible says a virgin not a young girl for the mother of Jesus. There is a difference between a young girl and a virgin.
Jeremiah the prophet had spoken years before on this.
Jeremiah 31:22
How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth— A woman shall encompass a man.”
What does the word encompass mean? It means bypass. This means a woman is going to have a child bypassing the man. It certainly was a new thing for a woman to give birth to a child without a man. The Adamic nature is passed to the offspring. By the bloodline of the man. Jesus bypassed the natural system of birth. So there were no impurities in the blood of Jesus Christ. Everything about Christ was perfect including His blood. When you analyze, the blood of Jesus Christ is perfect.
2. The blood of Jesus Christ is Pure
Jesus on the night he was betrayed. He first took the bread and then wine and gave it to his disciples. The wine mentioned is actually grape juice. The blood of Jesus is symbolized by the grape juice. One of the reasons we use grape juice in our Communion Service instead of wine is because wine has to go through a process of fermentation. The process of fermentation is actually bacteria working in the juice. It is a rotting process. That process picturizes sin. This surely could never give a proper picture of the sinless Blood of Christ. Pure grape juice is the true symbol of the pure Blood of the Lord Jesus.
In the medical field, there is a treatment called called “Keylation.”
It is similar to dialysis. In this, the blood is removed from the body. Then sent through a machine that cleanses the impurities from it. Then pumps it back into the body. After the blood had been purged of germs, disease, and bad cells, it will be then able to work against the enemy cells that are at war against the human system. This treatment prolongs the patient’s life for a good long time.
1 John 1:7b
The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, purifies us from all sin. The blood of Jesus takes away every impurity of sin from us.
Hebrews 9:13-14
13The 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.
14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, ………… The pure blood of the savior is applied to the sinner, it provides cleansing.
1 Peter 1:18-19
18For 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.
3. The Blood of Jesus Christ is Perpetual
It is an everlasting sacrifice.
In the OT the animals had to be sacrificed continuously year after year. The blood of bulls and goats provided forgiveness and pardon temporarily only because it pointed to the sacrifice of Christ and His blood being shed for the covering of our sin. But the sacrifice of Jesus is a permanent sacrifice.
Hebrews 7:27
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. In the OT sacrificial system, the High Priest used to offer sacrifice first for his sins and then for the sins of the people. Jesus being without sin sacrificed his life for the sins of the entire mankind once.
Hebrews 9:12
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, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:24-28
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.
26 Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 10:11-14
11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.…….. he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Jesus offered one sacrifice for our sins and that sacrifice holds good forever. He did it and completed so that he can sit down on the right hand of God. The blood and death of Jesus Christ set into motion a continuous cleansing for those who trust in Him. That one sacrifice has finished the job. That is why Jesus said when he completed his sacrifice on the cross:
John 19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Our faith in the blood of Jesus gives us eternal life and binds us in an eternal covenant as children of God.
Hebrews 13:20
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep…. The blood of Jesus is perpetual.
4. The Blood of Jesus Christ is Powerful
The songwriter 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
There is power, power wonder-working power In the Blood of the Lamb
There is power, power wonder-working power In the precious Blood of the Lamb
Also in Revelation John wrote:
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood, you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
It takes amazing power to purchase every person of this world (Right from Adam until the last man) with the blood. The blood of Jesus has great power, the blood purchased us.
Revelation 12:11
They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. By the power of the blood of Jesus, the angels overcame the Satan for one last time. We can overcome every attack of the devil by the power we have in the blood of Jesus Christ.
5. In Acquittal, The Blood of Jesus is Permanent
Acquit is a court word – It means to pay off, to free, to clear of all charges. The blood of Jesus Christ has cleared us of all our sins permanently. Once acquitted there is no more condemnation.
Illustration
Last week, 2 men accused of abducting and raping a woman was acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence. One of the most brutal attackers in the Delhi gang-rape incident was a 17-1/2-year-old man. Some people are trying to acquit him stating he is a minor.
We certainly know that in any of these cases justice was not done. I do wish that the guilty are punished looking at the pain women go through in the hands of rapists. Justice has not been done.
Well, when I look at my relationship with Christ, I have received the same treatment from God. You and I are guilty of sin and we know it. We are acquitted by Christ and it will never be counted on us. We also have been given pardon and mercy. It is a permanent mercy. Jesus has forgiven and chooses to forget our sins and also his mercies are new every morning. The blood of Jesus acquits us.
Jesus’ blood cleanses us from our past sins.
Isaiah 44:22
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Do you know how far is east from the west? You start going from east to west, when you reach the destination that you thought was west is no more west now; you are always in the east. And you cannot touch the east and west together. This is how God has forgiven our sins. He promised not to remember them again.
Jesus’ blood cleanses our present sins.
Jesus’ blood cleanses us not only our past sins but our present sins too. Every day we present new evidence of judgment towards God by our deeds, but we are acquitted, both the sins of omission and the sins of commission. The sins of omission are the things that we ought to be doing and are not doing it and the sins of commission are the things we are doing that we ought not to be doing so, these are covered fully by His Blood atonement.
Jesus’ blood cleanses our future sins.
When we trust in Christ as Saviour even our future sins are covered. This is not to say we can just go ahead and sin, a truly saved person won’t have that attitude. A believer will have to give account for every deed once you come into salvation. 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! As we continue to walk through this life we’ll need daily foot washings, but praise God that one-time salvation gives us a guarantee to secure us from all sin: past, present, and future!
1 John 1:7
… and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Jesus’ blood conquers all sin. That is all our past sins, present sins, and all our future sins.
6. The Blood of Jesus Christ 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.”
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious Blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. The blood of Jesus is precious to God and it should be as precious to us.
Illustration
I heard the story of a very wealthy old man who had an elaborate collection of the most expensive paintings. His only son shared his father’s interest in the rare paintings so they traveled around the world buying these paintings wherever they could find them. The son enlisted in the army and was placed in the medical corps. In a severe battle, while carrying a wounded soldier to safety, the son was seriously wounded himself and died. The mother was dead already and the news of the tragedy devastated the old father. He grieved in loneliness for months.
One day a knock came at his door and when he responded he found a young man with a package. The young man explained that he was one of the several soldiers that the son had carried to safety. Knowing of his interest in paintings he had painted a picture of the son and presented it to the father. The painting was not all that good but was very precious to the old man because it was a good resemblance and memory of his son. The man moved a very valuable painting from the mantle and placed the picture of his son in its place. An hour after hour he sat in a rocker and gazed up at the image of his beloved son.
The Father and The Son is one
When the old man died, the art collection was put up for sale by auction. Hundreds of collectors came to bid, soon the auctioneer announced that the will stated that the picture of his son was to be auctioned first. Surely a moan of disappointment could be heard from the crowd. “Let’s get on with the real paintings,” one of them says. The son’s picture was held up and the auctioneer said, “Who will give $100, $50, $25. and there was no response. just then a kind old gentleman in the back asked, “Will you take $10 and go on with the auction.” “Sold,” said the auctioneer. “Good”, cried the crowd at last “Now we can get on with the auction.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the auction,” announced the auctioneer. The crowd was puzzled and upset. Then the statement was given. The will declared that the son’s picture was to be sold and the person who takes it would get all the rest. Therefore the old man who paid $10 for the picture of the son was suddenly amazed at the fact that he now owned all the precious and valuable paintings.
When a person takes the Son of God, everything God has is included. We become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus and it is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that has made it all possible.
7. The blood of Jesus Christ provides Protection
In the first Passover festival in Exodus 12, the blood of the lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts of the Jewish homes just as the Lord had instructed them. When the death angel came on that fateful night with the awful judgment of death to the firstborn, the Jews were protected by the covering of blood.
Exodus 12:13
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. It was actually their faith that brought protection. They believed the Word the Lord had given to Moses. They believed it enough to act on it. By following the directions just as the Lord instructed they were protected from death.
When we are saved we are under the blood. The judgment will not fall on those who have placed their faith in Christ and accepted Him as their Saviour. If you have not gotten under the protection of the Blood of Jesus Christ, I ask you to do so now before it is too late.
Conclusion
Are your sins covered? Do you get the picture today? Can you see the portrait of Christ’s blood? More importantly, when God looks at your life can God see the blood of Jesus on you? If not, all He sees is your sin; the sin that does not make you his child, the sin that does not allow you into heaven. Jesus has already paid the price, make sure you’re covered…one application is all it takes to cover yourself with the blood of Jesus Christ. Let’s thank Jesus for his blood as we enter into the Holy Communion.
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.
Blood of Jesus Washes away the sin
This was when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, and also the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset. All the things about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be.
He began to speak and his statement was this: “My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?” The whole church began to weep. They realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and they werent being a genuiene follower of Christ.
How many of us also fall into this today? are we truly aware of the portrait of the blood of Jesus?
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