The Blood Of Christ

Purpose: To describe the importance of Christ’s shed blood.

Aim: I want the listener to extol the glories of Christ’s work of salvation.

INTRODUCTION: When evangelist John Wesley (1703–1791) was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature.

As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, “Stop! I have something more to give you.” The surprised robber paused. “My friend,” said Wesley, “you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here’s something to remember: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!’” The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.

Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before!

“I owe it all to you,” said the transformed man.

“Oh no, my friend,” Wesley exclaimed, “not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!” [Our Daily Bread, October 1, 1994 10,000 sermon illustrations. 2000 (electronic ed.). Dallas: Biblical Studies Press.]

➽What do we know about the Blood of Christ?

➽ #1 The Blood of Christ is blameless

Judas declared, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” … (Matthew 27:4 NAU)

Jesus was virgin born so His blood was not tainted by sin because the sin nature is passed on through the man.

John 19:6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” (NAU)

➽ #2 The Blood of Christ is precious

1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (NAU)

The blood of Christ is our treasure! It looks ugly or maybe worthless to the world, but to a Christian there is nothing more precious.

➽ #3 The Blood of Christ is necessary

Hebrews 9:22-23 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (NAU)

➽ #4 The Blood of Christ is final

Hebrews 9:24-28 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (NAU)

➽Why do we need the Blood of Christ now?

➽ #1 The Blood of Christ relieves our conscience

Do you want to put your head on the pillow at night without have guilt or feeling any guilt? Only the Blood of Christ can do that. Jesus paid for ALL of our sin.

Erich Fromm, a psychologist, said “It is indeed amazing that in as fundamentally irreligious a culture as ours, the sense of guilt should be so widespread and deeply-rooted as it is.” [Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (363). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.]

Hebrews 9:13-14 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (NAU)

False religions tell us to serve God in hopes that our conscience will be clean. Christ, on the other hand, clears up our conscience so we can and also want to serve Him.

➽ #2 The Blood of Christ gives us access to God