This Blood Is For You

THIS BLOOD . . .

TEXT: Colossians 1:20-23

Colossians 1:20-23 -- And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

l. INTRODUCTION -- BLOOD

A. General

-The human body is one of the greatest creations to ever exist. Designed and created by the Creator. Magnificent in origin, flawless in operation, amazing in study, and with an eternal soul. A soul that will live on forever someday.

-Blood. The forgotten body system. Blood is an organ that we often do not acknowledge. A drop of blood just small enough to fill in the letter "o" in your Bible contains 5 million red cells, 300,000 platelets, and 7,000 white blood cells.

-There is the pump. . . The heart. It beats on an average of 70 beats per minute or over 100,000 times in 24 hours. It ejects an average of 6 liters of blood every minute, 144 liters every day, 48,384 liters in a year, or in seventy years 3,386,880 liters.

-The heart requires no lubrication or maintenance. It never rests. It has an output that varies between .025 horsepower at rest and sleep and drives up to 1 horsepower in moments of stress. It’s valves open and close 4,000 to 5,000 times each hour.

-Sixty thousand miles of blood vessels is that pathway that the blood is limited to. Yet, the blood can be ejected from the heart and go to the heart and return in about twenty seconds.

-It is blood that carries oxygen, nutrients, waste products, and fights infection all at the same time. And all of that just happened. I was a mere flagellum, then an ameoba, then a tadpole, a frog, a monkey, and now me!!! I agree with David.

Psalm 139:4 -- I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

-When the body begins to lose the flow of life, the blood pressure will drop and the heart will began to strain to increase the output in an attempt to sustain the vital organs. IV fluids will work for a period of time to maintain that strain of blood loss but there comes a point in which only blood is able to replace the loss. A transfusion is what is needed.

Dr. James Blundell was a physician in the early 19th century who began to finally experience some success with blood transfusions. He saved the lives of eleven mothers who were dying in the process of giving birth.

-It was then that a clearer understanding came that life is indeed dependent on blood.

B. Biblical

-The Bible from it’s outset has always proved that blood is significant for life. Not so much the physical life but for eternal life. It is blood that has the power to cleanse sin.

Exodus 12:13 -- And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

-The flight from Egypt. The hustle to get ready in the dark. The preparation of the Passover Lamb. The blood applied to the door post. The mark of the blood was necessary for the first born to be saved. That is not without significance in my own life. There must be a mark of Calvary somewhere if I am to be saved.

-Throughout the Book, we find the word "blood" 447 times in 375 different verses. It has numerous characteristics:

It has a voice -- Genesis 4:10 (Cain and Abel)

It is the life -- Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:23

It cannot be concealed -- Genesis 37:26

It has a mark when it is placed on things -- Genesis 37:31

It can become judgment -- Exodus 7:17-21

It may serve as a sign -- Exodus 4:9

It is a token -- Exodus 12:13

It seals a covenant -- Exodus 24:8

It has specific requirements -- Exodus 34:25

Only the chosen may use it -- Leviticus 1:5

It places limitations -- Leviticus 12:4-7

It is an offering -- Leviticus 14:25

It is allowed to touch the Mercy Seat -- Leviticus 16:15