THE BLOOD OF JESUS The shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood on the Cross was a factor in order for us to receive forgiveness for our sins and acceptance into the presence of God. “….without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” [Hebrews 9:22]. A Life is in the Blood 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….it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” When we sin, we earn death, “The wages of sin is death” [Romans 6:23]. Jesus paid this penalty for us by shedding His blood [dying for us – in our place]. Atonement [at-one-ment] means to be made AT ONE with God. Jesus gave His life [shed His blood] on the Cross for our AT ONE MENT [atonement]. This made it possible for us to be AT ONE with God. Jesus’ blood means we are no longer His enemy but His friend, His sons and daughters. By faith we accept what he did for us. B What sin does to our life 1. Separates us from God Isaiah 59:2 [niv] “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” 2. Makes us feel guilty Psalm 38:4 [niv] “My guilt has overwhelmed me like me a like a burden too heavy to bear.” 3. Allows satan to accuse us Revelation 12:10 [niv] “…the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night….” 4. Demand the death penalty Ezekiel 18:4 [niv] “…The soul who sins is the one who will die….” The Blood of Jesus Christ meets all of our needs. C The Blood is for God The Blood of Jesus Christ wholly satisfies God’s law – which requires a penalty for breaking the law. 1 John 3:4 says “sin is breaking the law.” The Blood protects us from the penalty of breaking the law [death]. In Exodus 12, God commands the people of Israel to put the Blood of a lamb on their door-posts to protect them from the destroyer - who would kill all the firstborn. This lamb was picture of the lamb – Jesus – Who would come later. God said, “…when I see the blood, I will pass over [protect] you…” [v 13]. 1. Fellowship is restored Romans 5:8, 9 [niv] “But God demonstrates his own for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him.” 2. We are redeemed [Purchased back from slavery] Ephesians 1:7 [niv] “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” D The Blood is for man The Blood has satisfied God; now it is to satisfy us in the cleansing of our conscience from guilt. 1. The Blood cleanses from guilt Hebrews 9:14 [niv] “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” 2. The Blood satisfies us Hebrews 13:12 [niv] “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood” 3. The Blood brings us close to God Colossians 1:20-22 [niv] “…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the Cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you…”. 3. The Blood gives boldness to enter God’s presence Hebrews 10:19-22 [niv] “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, the body…Let us draw near to God with the sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” 4. The Blood perfects us in the sight of God Hebrews 10:14 [niv] “…because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy…” E The Blood is for the devil Satan’s most strategic activity in this age is as the accuser of the brethren [Revelation 12:10] and it is as this that the Lord confronts him in His spiritual ministry as High Priest through His own blood [Hebrews 9:11-14]. 5. The Blood puts God on Man’s side against the devil Romans 8:31,33,34 [niv] “…If God is for us who can be against us?…Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?…Shall God who justifies? Who is he that condemns? Will Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – and is at the right hand of God and is also interceding [praying] for us?” The devil has no ground for accusation against those who have received the work of Christ’s shed blood for them. 6. The Blood dissolves all satan’s legal rights of ownership Colossians 1:14 [niv] “….in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.” Redemption means ‘to buy back’. We are under the new ownership, and the price was paid for us was the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. Acts 20:28 [niv] “…..the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” F What the Blood of Jesus Christ has brought us 1. Purity of heart 1 John 1:7 [niv] “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.” 2. Eternal Life John 6:53,54 “Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 3. Approach to God Ephesians 2:13 [niv] “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought through the blood of Christ.”
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:19:04 +0000