THE BLOOD OF CHRIST (2)
March 31, 2002 AM
Sermon Outline
Heb 10:26-31
INTRO: One historian wrote that on the day of atonement the blood of animals offered as sacrifice at the temple literally ran out of the temple during the entire period of the Mosaic covenant. One can only wonder at the thousands of animals killed as offering and whose blood was poured at the base of the altar. But the writer of Hebrews reminds us that it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins (Heb 10:4). Only the blood of Jesus could do that! So ...
I. BLOOD AND CLEANSING
A. Jer 2:20-22 No cleansing agent known to man can effect
1. they had sinned ... had polluted themselves with idols
2. and no amount of the strongest cleansers could take away the stain
3. their sin was marked (indelibly inscribed) before God
B. Until .... Rev 1:5 The blood of Jesus! (1 Jno 1:7)
1. what can wash away my sin ... nothing but the blood ...
2. all of the sacrifices of the past looked ahead to this
3. and this ... Acts 22:16
II. BLOOD AND SANCTIFICATION
A. Sanctify ... to purify, to consecrate
1. from the root meaning holy
2. note Lev 8:30 consecrated, dedicated to gods service
3. here is blood again ... with revealed use, purpose
B. Heb 13:12 The blood of Jesus sanctifies
1. it purifies; it consecrates to Gods service
2. Eph 5:26 sanctified; cleansed ... where? clearly in baptism (again, Acts 26:16)
3. Heb 10:29 the seriousness with which we should take this sanctification! (God provided the blood of His Son to sanctify - rest assured, He does not take lightly our unfaithfulness or lukewarmness ... which means we do not appreciate Jesus blood)
III. BLOOD AND PURCHASING
A. Ex 15:16 and Ps 74:2 How were they purchased?
1. the texts point back to a time Israel was purchased
2. could this be a reference to the Passover night? and the Passover lambs? Ex 12:7,12,13
3. the reference at 1 Cor 5:7 is certainly suggestive of such
B. So, Acts 20:28 The blood of Jesus purchases
1. the great difference is that the purchase is perfect
2. may I suggest that the greater the price, the more we value?
3. once again, we have a demonstration of the great love of God ... His own Sons blood purchased us
IV. BLOOD AND RANSOM
A. Ps 49:7-9 Fact: things cannot ransom the soul
1. most of us would understand the ransom principle
2. something, someone is held captive
3. but for a certain ransom price freedom is granted
B. Thus, Mt 20:28
1. what happened when Jesus gave his life? blood!
2. so, Lk 22:20 shed for you - the ransom
3. in a way, I think, this aspect of the significance of Jesus blood is most appealing to me
4. think of parents whose child has been kidnaped - they will pay any ransom to free their child from captivity
5. God did that for me
CLOSE: Where would I be without Jesus blood? I would be without any hope beyond death.
Cecil A. Hutson
31 March 2002