The Blood of Christ

The Blood of Christ What does the shed blood of our Lord mean for us today?

Christ’s Blood Remitted Our Sins • No difference in men, all have sinned, and are in need of Christ’s shed blood (cf. Romans 3:21-26)

Romans 3:21-26 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”

Romans 3:21-26, cont. (25), “…whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Christ’s Blood Remitted Our Sins • No difference in men, all have sinned, and are in need of Christ’s shed blood (cf. Romans 3:21-26) • Remission – freedom (fig.) pardon: -- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty (Strong’s)

Christ’s Blood Remitted Our Sins • No difference in men, all have sinned, and are in need of Christ’s shed blood (cf. Romans 3:21-26) • Remission – freedom (fig.) pardon: -- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty (Strong’s) • Christ’s blood is precious (1 Peter 1:18-19)

1 Peter 1:18-19 “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Christ’s Blood Remitted Our Sins • No difference in men, all have sinned, and are in need of Christ’s shed blood (cf. Romans 3:21-26) • Remission – freedom (fig.) pardon: -- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty (Strong’s) • Christ’s blood is precious (1 Peter 1:18-19) • His blood washes us from our sins (Revelation 1:4-5)

Revelation 1:4-5 “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

Christ’s Blood Purchased the Church • Paul wrote that Christ’s sacrifice was made to purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25)

Acts 20:28 “"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

Christ’s Blood Purchased the Church • Paul wrote that Christ’s sacrifice was made to purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25) • It is no coincidence that when one becomes a Christian, being washed in the blood of the lamb, he is added to the church at the same time (Revelation 1:5; Acts 2:47)

Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

Acts 2:47 “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Christ’s Blood Purchased the Church • Paul wrote that Christ’s sacrifice was made to purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25) • It is no coincidence that when one becomes a Christian, being washed in the blood of the lamb, he is added to the church at the same time (Revelation 1:5; Acts 2:47) • If the church is of so much value to Christ, it should be important to us as well!

Christ’s Blood Can Be Counted Unholy • Even after what Christ has done for us, some count his blood a common or “unholy” thing (Hebrews 10:29)

Hebrews 10:29 (KJV) “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Christ’s Blood Can Be Counted Unholy • Even after what Christ has done for us, some count his blood a common or “unholy” thing (Hebrews 10:29) • Who are these people? They are the ones who sin “willfully” (cf. vs. 26)

Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” Forsaking assembly (context, vs. 25); filthy language (cf. Eph. 5:4); lascivious actions (Gal. 5:19-21); vain worship (Matt. 15:9); drinking, drugs (1 Pet. 4:3-4); etc. Any kind of willful disobedience of God.

Christ’s Blood Can Be Counted Unholy • Even after what Christ has done for us, some count his blood a common or “unholy” thing (Hebrews 10:29) • Who are these people? They are the ones who sin “willfully” (cf. vs. 26) • When we leave the commands and precepts of God, we are guilty of counting Christ’s blood as unholy or common (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58)

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Rather than being willfully disobedient, Christians should be diligent in response to the precious sacrifice of Christ.

Conclusion So long as men and women are still in sin, there will be a need for the precious blood of Christ. Have you come into contact with the cleansing effects of Christ’s blood?

The Blood of Christ