Books

Bible Basics

By Bill Dillon

The Blood of Christ

Introduction

What can:
wash away our sins free us from Satan’s slavery
lift us from the gutter make us whole again and
redeem our souls cleanse us from corruption
give us everlasting life?
Nothing, but nothing, than the blood of Jesus Christ!

Good morning to all listening. We trust all to be well with you. This is the “Words of Life”. Today I want to talk to you about the greatest stain remover in the world. It is the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:7 declares:

“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.”

Before I proceed further, I would like very much to extend to all of our listeners an invitation to be with the Mountain Home Church of Christ for worship services today. Our church building is located at the corner of College and North Streets. This morning we meet at 9:30 and 10:20 AM and this evening at 6:00 PM. Each Wednesday evening we meet at 7:00 PM.

Come with:

A Bible in your hand

A friend by your side

A smile on your face

A song in your heart.

What the New Age philosophies of men can never do; what the modernistic theologies of today can never do; what an in depth knowledge of man can never do; what the scientific developments of man can never do; and what the modern marvels of medicine can never do — the redeeming, the royal, rich, ruby-red blood of God’s only begotten Son can do and does do!

Let us pause, ponder and hopefully profit from some thoughts relative to the blood of Christ. Today many people in religion are trying to eliminate the word “blood” from hymn books and the Bible. They have no wish nor desire to even mention in any way the idea of “blood.” They object to singing such songs as “There Is Power In The Blood”.

They also are repulsed to read Bible passages such as:

Hebrews 9:22b: “Without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Matthew 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

1 Peter 1:19: “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Revelation 1:5b: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

Friends, many of these people who are trying to eliminate blood from the Bible are not infidels and skeptics. No, indeed! Many of them are religious people who just do not like the concept of blood-redemption. Thus, they try to de-emphasize (if not completely do away with) the whole idea of blood-redemption.

The New Testament is a blood-sealed document (Hebrews 9:18). When the Lord Jesus Christ sealed the New Testament with His blood, He blotted out or set aside that covenant which had been sealed with the blood of bulls and goats (Hebrews 10:4-17). When we say the Old Testament has been set aside, we simply mean that it no longer is binding on God’s people in its specific teachings. Under the Old Testament, animal sacrifices, mechanical instruments of music and the burning of incense were authorized. Today these specific details from the Old Testament are no longer binding. The New Testament is the law that is to govern the people of God today. All the scriptures are binding in principle but the New Testament is binding both in principle and specific teaching. Romans 15:4 informs us that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for out learning.” We do not have to build altars, erect a great and fabulous Temple and slaughter sheep and goats and bulls and send up incense. Why? Because that Old Testament was set aside when Christ was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

We must understand that the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ (what we call the New Testament) is a spiritual covenant. Friends, it must mean much to us to know that the Son of God blotted out that old law sealed by the blood of creatures and instituted a new covenant sealed with the blood of the one and only Christ. If today we respect and honor the blood of Christ, we are going to have to be guided by the New Testament. This New Testament is the way which God speaks to us today through His Son. Hebrews 1:1,2 says:

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”

If we intend to properly regard the blood of Christ, we must begin by a better study, a deeper study, a fuller study of the New Testament. A day should never pass that we have not studied a portion of the New Testament.

This is not to say that we disregard the Old Testament. This is not to say that we never study it, that we never preach from it, that we never read it; but it is to say that we are bound by the New Testament to God because the blood of His Son sealed or confirmed it. The blood of animals sealed the Old Testament, but the blood of Jesus Christ sealed the New Testament. Yes, the Old Testament has lessons for us; there are examples, there are types (patterns) found there; there are admonitions, there are principles by which God dealt with people back then that serve as warnings of how He will deal with us today; but, dear listeners, there is not a single rule found in the Old Testament that God wants us to keep, that He has not expounded more fully in the New Testament. There is not one single thing that man can do today to please God that can be found outside the New Testament! Think about that seriously. Keep an open mind. No, emphatically no, we do not repudiate and reject the Old Testament; we love it and honor it and study it — it serves many marvelous functions and serves numerous needed purposes. It encourages us, it comforts us, it strengthens us, it helps and aids us along life’s way; it greatly fills up our empty reservoirs of faith, hope and love. It puts high-octane fuel in our tanks. It puts coal in our furnaces and wood in our fires. The Old Testament gives faith and much needed lessons on life.

But, for all that, we do not go to it for guidance (specific teaching), but we do use it for the great principles of faith it teaches and emulates. Are you thinking correctly (biblically) about the blood of Christ by regarding the New Testament and Old Testament in the manner in which God wants you to?

Those individuals who dislike the idea of blood in the Bible do not realize that the church was actually purchased by blood. Paul says to the elders of the church at Ephesus that Christ had purchased the church “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, bought the church with His blood. If you ever get anything out of the blood, you must get into the church.

Let us suppose a man goes out to a shopping mall and purchases a hat for $25. If ever that man is to receive any benefit or good from that $25, he must make use of his new hat. The only way he will ever get any good out of the money is through the hat. If he has no use for the hat or is neglectful or indifferent toward it, his money is in vain.

The very same thing applies in reference to the church. If ever you receive any benefit or blessing from Christ’s blood, poured out at the cross of Calvary, then you must get into the church; live, work and die in the church of the Lord. Why? Because it was purchased with the blood of God’s Son.

The blood of Christ and the church of Christ are inseparably linked. If the church is not necessary to the salvation, then neither is the blood of Christ. If the church has nothing to do with saving souls, then the blood has nothing to do with saving souls. It is impossible to give due regard to the blood of Christ without giving due regard to the church of Christ.

When you read the blood-sealed Book, whenever you die to sin and are buried in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life, you have been bought with the blood and washed in the blood (Romans 6:1-4).

By means of the blood of Christ . . .

• a sinner becomes a saint

• the lost becomes found

• the guilty becomes forgiven and

• the hell-bound becomes the heaven-bound!

The moment one obeys the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ many things happen. Things happen then that will never happen again. It is a moment that causes heaven to rejoice and angels to sing. It is a moment that holds the value of eternity within it. No other experience, no matter how exciting, how thrilling, how enriching, how enlightening — can quite compare with it. Never is so much accomplished in so short a time as when one goes down into the water and comes up out of the water as a new creation. When you obey the gospel . . .

• a complete and wondrous transformation occurs

• a total change of direction happens

• an absolute turnabout in living takes place and

• an adjustment of goals and purposes transpires.

Here’s the blood-bought story:

• as sinners we had been robbed, beaten and left for dead, but God in mercy and grace enriched us, healed us and clothed us.

• as sinners we had been contaminated, disgraced and condemned, but God cleansed, enhanced and forgave us.

• as sinners we had been hated, abused and burdened, but God loved us, lifted us and loosed us.

We had been scorned, deceived and oppressed, but God cherished, enlightened and sanctified us.

We had been suffering, shackled and stained, but God liberated, relieved and sanctified us.

We had been weakened, depressed and stunned, but God strengthened, encouraged and revived us.

All by the blood of Christ!!

“O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Satan had ruined us, but God remolded us.

Satan gave us rubbish, but God gave us riches.

Satan gave us grime, but God gave us glory.

Satan gave us junk, but God gave us jewels.

All of this and much, much, much more happened when we were washed in the blood of the Lamb.

What a before and after picture the blood of Christ makes:

• before the blood we were strangers; after, we are children of God.

• before the blood we were miserably poor; after, we are immeasurably rich.

• before we were clad in nothing; after, we don robes of royalty.

Conclusion

The more one considers its scope; the more one meditates upon its greatness; the more one thinks about its blessedness; the more one contemplates its benefits; the more one examines its privileges; the more one sees its opportunities; and the more one ponders its possibilities, the greater the message and the greater the meaning the blood of Christ has!

If you will be saved by the blood of Christ it means that:

• you no longer have to feel the heavy burden of past sins.

• you no longer have to stumble around in spiritual darkness.

• you no longer lie awake at night worrying about what you have done wrong.

What a blessing and privilege to be covered by the blood of Christ!!

I can only hope that someone listening today has been touched by a serious and sober consideration of these matters. You know the Lord loves you. You know He died for you. You know someday He is coming again to receive you to Himself. Why not today contact us at the Mountain Home Church of Christ so we can baptize you and humbly help get you started living the Christian life?

Thanks for listening. May God bless you is our prayer.