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The Blessings Of The Blood
Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Feb 13, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: a message to develop an appreciation for the blood of Christ.
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The Blessings of the Blood
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Introduction: How can blood be a blessing you ask? All throughout me childhood if there was blood there was an accident or an injury of some kind to me or my brother Danny. We were always getting wounded in some way. So if there was blood there was something wrong. But that is not the case where the blood of Jesus is concerned and our text along with many others points out this truth.
I. In him we have redemption through his blood
a. The person of Christ – In Him
It’s not through religion but through the person of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
b. The possession of Christ – we have redemption
Redemption supposes captivity and slavery, and is a deliverance out of it.
The word Redemption is specifically mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible, and is first mentioned in the book of Exodus. It involves bondages, a price, a ransom, deliverance, legal rights and duties.
None of the other religions of the world have a similar concept, and it is indeed a beautiful thing to visualize in many Bible passages. and one that is central to the Christian faith.
We can learn all about the term by uncovering the origin, social, and historical context of it; “Redeemer” comes from the Hebrew term “Goel”, and it appears throughout several time periods and contexts in both the Old and New Testaments. It is especially prominnant in the book of Ruth where Boaz redeems Ruth as her kinsman redeemer (goel).
c. The passion of Christ – through His blood
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
When one must kill an innocent animal because of his sin, it illustrates the awfulness of sin. God wanted man to understand that when he sinned, it meant death for something or someone. BibleResources.Org
“Into that bondage man has plunged himself; God’s mercy redeems him from it at an unspeakable price.” Copied
II. the forgiveness of our trespasses
a. Cleansing our sin
But 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9
There are eleven Bible verses that mention the blood of Jesus Christ, we learned that his blood does the following for us:
Brings us near to God the Father: Ephesians 2:13
Cleanses our guilty consciences: Hebrews 9:14
Forgives us of sin: Ephesians 1:7 and Hebrews 9:22 and 1 John 1:7 and Revelation 1:5
Justifies us: Romans 5:9
Makes peace between God the Father and us humans: Colossians 1:20
Reconciles all things to himself: Colossians 1:20
Redeems us: Ephesians 1:7 and 1 Peter 1:18-19
Sanctifies us: Hebrews 13:12
The key, it seems to us, is that apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (see Hebrews 9:22).
b. Covering our sin
The forgiveness of all sins, original and actual, past, present, and to come; and this is through the blood of Christ.
When Jesus died, he took the place of the perfect lamb that the priests would sacrifice. Instead, Jesus’ blood washes us and makes our sins whiter than snow. The old system of continual sacrifices isn’t needed anymore. Once you’re a repentant believer, you’re covered.
Even though it can feel confusing, think of this in as simple terms as possible. The penalty for sin is death, and Jesus paid that penalty once and for all when He was willingly put to death and then resurrected.
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.
c. Canceling our sin
In ancient times, people hand-wrote deeds, receipts, and bills with reed or quill pens and black ink made of soot, gum, and water. When they made a printing mistake on a document (other than the Scriptures), they might choose to blot it out with ink, rewrite the letter or word correctly, and move on. The mistake had to be covered.
That’s a picture of the “blotting out” of our transgressions. Our sin must be made right if we are to be fit for God’s presence. The only substance that can cover our sin is the blood of God’s own Son. Under the Old Testament Law, God allowed the substitution of bulls, sheep, and goats (Numbers 29:11; Leviticus 6:25; 2 Chronicles 29:24). When their blood was spilled, it symbolized what God intended to do when He sent His Messiah to be the final propitiation for sin (Romans 3:25–26; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). With Jesus’ shed blood, God blots out the transgression of every person who comes to Him in faith (John 3:16–18; Matthew 26:28). “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:25–26).