The Apostle Peter uses a beautiful phrase to describe the blood of Christ.
THE “PRECIOUS” BLOOD OF CHRIST
“You know that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver and gold….But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless..” I Peter 1:18-19 NASB.
Webster defines precious as: "of exceedingly high value or worth". The Christian would define precious, "of inestimable value or worth"!
I. The Importance of the Blood of Jesus
• Scripture Reference: Hebrews 9:22 - "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
A. There’s power in the blood!
• "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11
B. The life force of our physical bodies is in our blood, and in the same way, the life force of the Gospel is also in the blood of Jesus.
1. It's crucial that we don't exclude the message of the redeeming blood of Jesus from the Gospel that we preach.
2. Only the blood of Jesus has the power to make atonement for our souls. To atone means = “to make at one” (bring together)
II. The Power of Redemption
• Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:7 - "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
A. Only the blood of Jesus has the power to redeem humanity of their sins.
1. Webster provides an accurate definition: to redeem means: "to buy back".
• "For Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Revelation 5:9.
• "Feed the church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28.
• Therefore, "we have been bought with a price." I Corinthians 7:23
B. The blood of Jesus is the only blood that can redeem us unto God.
Hebrews 10:4-10
4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
III. Some Benefits of the Blood
• Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
A. The power to CLEANSE us from sin.
"…and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin." I John 1:7.
B. The power to JUSTIFY us.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Romans 5:8-9.
C. The power to SANCTIFY our souls.
"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate." Hebrews 13:12.
D. The blood of Jesus brings PERFECT PEACE to our souls.
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself…" Colossians 1:20.
Closing: Victory Through the Blood
Scripture Reference: Revelation 12:11 - "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..."
