The Blessings of the Blood
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Introduction: How can blood be a blessing you ask? All throughout me childhood if there was blood there was an accident or an injury of some kind to me or my brother Danny. We were always getting wounded in some way. So if there was blood there was something wrong. But that is not the case where the blood of Jesus is concerned and our text along with many others points out this truth.
I. In him we have redemption through his blood
a. The person of Christ – In Him
It’s not through religion but through the person of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
b. The possession of Christ – we have redemption
Redemption supposes captivity and slavery, and is a deliverance out of it.
The word Redemption is specifically mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible, and is first mentioned in the book of Exodus. It involves bondages, a price, a ransom, deliverance, legal rights and duties.
None of the other religions of the world have a similar concept, and it is indeed a beautiful thing to visualize in many Bible passages. and one that is central to the Christian faith.
We can learn all about the term by uncovering the origin, social, and historical context of it; “Redeemer” comes from the Hebrew term “Goel”, and it appears throughout several time periods and contexts in both the Old and New Testaments. It is especially prominnant in the book of Ruth where Boaz redeems Ruth as her kinsman redeemer (goel).
c. The passion of Christ – through His blood
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
When one must kill an innocent animal because of his sin, it illustrates the awfulness of sin. God wanted man to understand that when he sinned, it meant death for something or someone. BibleResources.Org
“Into that bondage man has plunged himself; God’s mercy redeems him from it at an unspeakable price.” Copied
II. the forgiveness of our trespasses
a. Cleansing our sin
But 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9
There are eleven Bible verses that mention the blood of Jesus Christ, we learned that his blood does the following for us:
Brings us near to God the Father: Ephesians 2:13
Cleanses our guilty consciences: Hebrews 9:14
Forgives us of sin: Ephesians 1:7 and Hebrews 9:22 and 1 John 1:7 and Revelation 1:5
Justifies us: Romans 5:9
Makes peace between God the Father and us humans: Colossians 1:20
Reconciles all things to himself: Colossians 1:20
Redeems us: Ephesians 1:7 and 1 Peter 1:18-19
Sanctifies us: Hebrews 13:12
The key, it seems to us, is that apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (see Hebrews 9:22).
b. Covering our sin
The forgiveness of all sins, original and actual, past, present, and to come; and this is through the blood of Christ.
When Jesus died, he took the place of the perfect lamb that the priests would sacrifice. Instead, Jesus’ blood washes us and makes our sins whiter than snow. The old system of continual sacrifices isn’t needed anymore. Once you’re a repentant believer, you’re covered.
Even though it can feel confusing, think of this in as simple terms as possible. The penalty for sin is death, and Jesus paid that penalty once and for all when He was willingly put to death and then resurrected.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
c. Canceling our sin
In ancient times, people hand-wrote deeds, receipts, and bills with reed or quill pens and black ink made of soot, gum, and water. When they made a printing mistake on a document (other than the Scriptures), they might choose to blot it out with ink, rewrite the letter or word correctly, and move on. The mistake had to be covered.
That’s a picture of the “blotting out” of our transgressions. Our sin must be made right if we are to be fit for God’s presence. The only substance that can cover our sin is the blood of God’s own Son. Under the Old Testament Law, God allowed the substitution of bulls, sheep, and goats (Numbers 29:11; Leviticus 6:25; 2 Chronicles 29:24). When their blood was spilled, it symbolized what God intended to do when He sent His Messiah to be the final propitiation for sin (Romans 3:25–26; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). With Jesus’ shed blood, God blots out the transgression of every person who comes to Him in faith (John 3:16–18; Matthew 26:28). “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:25–26).
Those who have had their transgressions blotted out by the blood of Jesus are forgiven and will spend eternity in heaven with Him. Without Christ, however, sins remain a dark stain on the soul, and the fate of the unforgiven is eternity in hell (2 Peter 2:4–10; Luke 12:4–5). No amount of sincerity, religious fervor, or good deeds on the “credit” side of our ledgers can blot out our transgressions. Only the blood of the spotless Lamb of God can blot out our transgressions, erase our debits, and make us clean before God (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:13–14).
RICHARD CARLSON ON FORGIVENESS
Let me conclude with in the words of Dr. Richard P. Carlson, Professor of Biblical Studies at Gettysburg Seminary: "God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ is a scandal. It goes out to sinners regardless of their religious or social standing. It breaks into human existence without prior invitation. It transforms who we are, whom we understand God to be, and how we are to live our lives and utilize our resources...It seeks to generate not just an intellectual acknowledgement or a polite thank you but blubbering, messy, wholehearted, continual devotion. It is not something that we control, but something that slams into our lives and takes control. It is not given to us as a result of our love but generates love in us toward God and toward one another."
(From a sermon by Ronald Harbaugh, Table Fellowship Is For Sinners, 6/12/2010)
III. according to the riches of his grace
a. Amazing grace
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Hymn:
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Refrain
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Refrain
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Refrain
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Refrain
b. Abundant grace
“Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound.”
"Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within."
MAGNIFIED GRACE
“God’s grace is magnified my man’s ruin. The more keenly the ruin is felt, the more highly the grace is valued.”
c. Accepted Grace
Listen to this from R.C. Sproul:
“Perhaps the most difficult task for us to perform is to rely on God’s grace and God’s grace alone for our salvation. It is difficult for our pride to rest on grace. Grace is for other people—for beggars. We don’t want to live by a heavenly welfare system.”
Conclusion: Written In Red
In letters of crimson, God wrote His love
On the hillside so long, long ago;
For you and for me Jesus died,
And love's greatest story was told.
Refrain
I love you, I love you
That's what Calvary said;
I love you, I love you,
I love you, Written in Red
Down through the ages, God wrote His love
With the same hands that suffered and bled;
Giving all that He had to give,
A message so easily read.
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!
Yes, blood is a blessing if it is the blood of Jesus. Have you put your faith in His blood to deliver you from the bondage of sin?
