The Blood of Christ (Part 2)

Cornerstone Baptist Church - Sunday PM, May 29, 2011

Revelation 1:4-6 “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; ⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Romans 5:11 “…we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

A Japanese soldier by the name of Shoichi Yokoi lived in a cave on the island of Guam to which he fled in 1944 when it became apparent the war had turned to America’s favor. Fearing for his life, he stayed hidden for twenty-eight years in a jungle cave, coming out only at night. During this self-imposed exile he lived on frogs, rats, snails, shrimp, nuts and mangoes. Even when he figured out the war was over he was afraid to come out for fear he would be executed. Two hunters found him and escorted him to freedom. He was living all this time under fear of judgment. All he needed to do was appropriate the freedom that was available.

In a similar way many are living under the condemnation of sins that have already been dealt with. All they need to do is accept the atonement that is available through Jesus Christ.

Atonement is the operation by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between Himself and yourself. Through God's atoning grace and forgiveness, we are reinstated to a relationship of at-one-ment with God.

The blood of Christ is “blood that speaks.” Hebrews 12:24 “To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Last week we saw that Christ blood speaks of… Love, Purpose, Suffering, Substitution, Redemption, Cleansing, Access, Peace, Heaven.

Christ’s blood is DIVINE BLOOD, untainted by sin. Hebrews 2:14 “For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Partakers [koinoneo] to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner.

Took Part [metecho] to take part of but not all.

W. E. Vine wrote, Koinoneo stresses the fact of having something in common; Metochos, the fact of sharing; the latter is less thorough in effect than the former.

All Adam’s children share fully in his flesh and blood, but Christ took only part, that is the flesh part. Christ blood is unique; it is the result of a supernatural conception – the virgin birth.  He was of the seed of David according to the flesh, but His blood is by divine addition.

Genesis 2:7 “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Christ did not participate in Adam’s condition; He was born of a Virgin.

It is an established physiological fact that the mother's blood is neither the source nor supply of the blood in an unborn infant's veins. Gray's Anatomy, a recognized medical authority, states: “The fetal and maternal blood currents do not intermingle, being separated from each other by the delicate walls of the villi.”

Ian Paisley wrote – From the shedding of blood in Eden's garden for the clothing of our fallen first parents, to the great throng of the Apocalypse who sing of the Blood of the Lamb, the Bible is a book of blood. The crimson flow from Immanuel's veins touches every verse, every chapter and every book. God's eternal law stands written across the whole volume – ‘Without shedding of blood is no remission’ Heb 9:22.

Where, among the sons of men can blood be found rich enough to pay the tremendous debt of sin, precious enough to satisfy divine justice, strong enough to cancel sin's guilt, pure enough to usher in the reign of righteousness, overcoming enough to crush the devil and divine enough to redeem the elect of God?

  

 God has made of one blood of all the nations of the earth. By God's creation man's blood is one in composition. By sin's ruination, man's blood is one in pollution. Through the veins of sinning humanity flows a poisoned bloodstream. Sinful man is depraved; his blood is liquid corruption. Such blood calls for judgment rather than appeasement. Its shedding can only bring God's wrath and not God's mercy.”

Jesus’ was Innocent Blood. Judas confessed in Matthew 27:4 “Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”

Jesus’ was Incorruptible Blood. Soon after death, decay sets in and it begins in the blood.

Acts 2:27, 31 “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” (Ps 16:10 & Acts 13:35)

Let’s examine some additional Biblical truths concerning the blood of Jesus Christ. The Blood of Christ. . .

1. PROVIDES A COVERING FOR MAN’S SIN AND SHAME:

Revelation 1:5 “From Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” [7:14] “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

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.” [64:6] “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

2.  MAKES US ACCEPTABLE TO GOD: Genesis 4:1-6.  

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

Ephesians 1:6-7 “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

3. JUSTIFIES & DELIVERS US FROM JUDGMENT:

Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

God will by know means clear the guilty; neither will He condemn the cleared!

4. KEEPS US SECURE:

Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Hebrews 10:10, 14 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”

5. UNITES US WITH OTHER BELIEVERS IN CHRIST:

Ephesians 2:13-14 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

6. RECONCILES US TO GOD:

Romans 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Reconcile = To bring back a former state of harmony; to reestablish a close relationship between persons.

7. PURCHASED FOR US AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE:

Hebrews 9:14-15 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,… And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that… they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

8. GIVES US VICTORY OVER SATAN’S POWER:

Revelation 12:10-11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

It Will Be Worth It All

Cornerstone Baptist Church - Sunday AM, May 29, 2011

Text: Matthew 6:19-34

Another verse comes to mind when I think on these things:  Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Providence is… 1. The act of providing for future use or application. 2. Foresight; timely care; accompanied with the procurement of what is necessary for future use.  3. In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures.

A belief in Divine Providence is a source of great consolation to good men. 

As you examine Matthew 6:19-27 you see that God is concerned about every area of our life. He is interested in those…

v 19-21 – Facing financial loss.

v 22-23 – Groping in darkness.

v 24 – Standing in the place of indecision.

v 25 – Overcome with fear.

v 26 – Battling with God’s acceptance.

v 27 – Struggling with God’s design.

v 28-30 – Fraught with materialism.

Many people spend much of their life worrying about things of temporal value. These conflicts and struggles are natural to fallen man. However, as we grow in Christ these concerns should be increasingly less time consuming.

Amazingly, God can take all of our conflicts and struggles, and turn them into valuable experience.

^#1. His Voice Is Worth Hearing. John 5:24  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

·     The Voice of Salvation. Isa 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.”

·         The Voice of Education. Prov 8:33 “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.”

·         The Voice of consolation. 1 Thess 4:18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

^#2. His Storms Are Worth Weathering. Matthew 8:23-27 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, “Lord, save us: we perish.” 26 And he saith unto them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”

Psalm 107:29 “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” [68:19] “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”

^#3. His Touch Is Worth Feeling. Matthew 14:35-36 “When the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” His touch changes lives!

·         Jesus Touched Jacob’s Thigh and He Never Walked The Same Again. Genesis 32:24-25 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

·         Jesus touched the life of… A Leper;… A Demon possessed man;…  A lady of the night;… A Tax collector…

^#4. His Will Is Worth Knowing. John 1:47-51 “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. ⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. ⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

^#5. His Mountains Are Worth Climbing. Psalm 121:1 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”

·         The Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17 (Peter, James, John).

·         The Mount of Sacrifice. Genesis 22.

^#6. His Valleys Are Worth Walking. Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

·         The Valley of Decision. Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”

·        The Valley of Death. Ps 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.  Christ will be there.”

^#7. His Heaven is Worth Seeing. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

When We See Christ

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,

We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;

But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,

We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;

We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,

The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

      Refrain

      It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

      Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

      One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

      So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

The Blood of Christ (Part 1)

Heb 9:22-26 “Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ²³ It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: ²⁵ Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; ²⁶ For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

The Blood of Christ is essential to God’s plan of Salvation for man.

The “Blood” is spoken of over 400 times in the bible. The BLOOD, when it refers either directly or symbolically to the blood of Christ, is at the very heart and core of the Bible.

Any departure from the biblical message on “the blood of Christ” is heresy and leads to apostasy.

The shedding of blood in the sacrifice of  “Passover” (Ex 12) and the offering of the “Levitical” sacrifices (Lev 1-6) all spoke of the occasion when Jesus Christ would come and provide “remission of sins” through His blood.

Matthew 26:27-28 “He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; ²⁸For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

The Physiology of Blood: Leviticus 17:11, 14 “The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul…¹⁴For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof:”

1. The function of blood is to carry life to the rest of the body. The five quarts of blood in your body is circulated throughout by the heart every 23 seconds.  As the blood flows to the fixed cells of the body (muscle, nerve, gland, bone, connective tissue, etc…) it delivers life giving oxygen and nutrients and then carries away the waste the body produces.

2. There are different types of blood cells and activities:

Plasma – A fluid solution that acts as a vehicle for blood cells.

Platelets – A thin transparent oval shaped cell whose function is associated with the process of blood clotting.

Red cells – 5,000,000 per cubic millimeter, they carry fuel to the fixed tissue.

White cells – 6000 per cubic millimeter; they help to defend the body against infection.

Antibodies – Are produced in response to infection to prevent future infection.

3. As this chemistry of the blood performs these necessary task, so does the blood of Jesus Christ in the spiritual realm.

Jesus Christ is to every believer, the source of life.

He is also the One who keeps cleansing us day by day.

1 John 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (Gr. Present passive)

The blood that Jesus shed for me, 'Way back on Calvary; 

The blood that gives me strength from day to day,

It will never lose its power.

It reaches to the highest mountain, It flows to the lowest valley,

The blood that gives me strength form day to day,

It will never lose its power.

He is the one that keeps us from falling into the sin again and again.

We face a continuous battle with infection (world, flesh, devil), but pleading the blood of Christ will deliver us. 

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Precious Blood of Christ is the blood that speaks. Hebrews 12:24 “To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

The blood of Abel speaks of…

1. Man’s sin and guilt before God (Genesis 3:6-11, 21).
   
   
2. The necessity of deliverance – Exodus 12:13 “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

3. Sin’s affect on mankind – Genesis 4:1-6. There is an acceptable & unacceptable offering to God!

The Blood of Jesus Christ Speaks of Better Things. Hebrews 9:26 “Now once in the end of the world hath Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” [12:24] “The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

1.      It Speaks of LOVE. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

2.  It Speaks of FORGIVENESS. Colossians 1:13-14 “Who hath delivered us from the power of dark-ness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

3.      It Speaks of PURPOSE. Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

4.      It Speaks of SUFFERING. Revelation 5:9 “They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.”

5.      It Speaks of SUBSTITUTION. John 1:29 “John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

6.      It Speaks of REDEMPTION. Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

7.      It Speaks of CLEANSING. 1 John 1:7 “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.”

8.      It Speaks of ACCESS. Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”

9.      It Speaks of PEACE. Colossians 1:20 “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.”

10.  It Speaks of HEAVEN. Revelation 7:14-15 “These are they which…have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”