The Blood of the Lamb

[0:00] Let's just pray shall we. Heavenly Father we thank you that we can come and open your word and just fellowship, just commune with you and with each other that you would be glorified today we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

[0:23] I want to talk about the blood, the blood. In 1 Peter 1 we hear of the precious blood, precious blood. The word blood occurs some 400 times in the word of God. The blood's right back there in Genesis, right back there when we see Cain shed the blood of his brother Abel.

[0:46] In the book of beginnings we see then the blood as the Lord God provided a covering in Genesis 3 verse 21. God provided a covering as the blood was shed.

[1:03] It speaks to us of atonement of grace. We see the blood then in Revelation, right through to Revelation where the Lord Jesus returns clothed with a robe dipped in his blood.

[1:20] We see right through from Genesis to Revelation the scarlet cord if you like as we see even the prostitute Rahab she was saved by that scarlet cord that hung from her window as the sign of redemption, of salvation.

[1:40] We see the blood of Jesus right through the pages of the word of God. We see the blood of Jesus has some very vital effects. We see that in 1 Peter 1 verse 18. It's called the precious blood. 1 Peter 1 verse 18 it says, For as much as you know that you are not redeemed with corruptible things of silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

[2:15] We see precious blood. Precious means precious. Precious means valuable. Precious means costly. Precious means precious. It means valuable. It means costly. Do we consider the value of the blood? In the writings of Peter we see precious faith. We see precious blood. We see precious promises. We see He is precious as the living stone.

[2:36] But today just to look at that precious blood. Just to consider that precious blood. The value of it. The importance of it for a moment. The value of the blood. We see that it redeems as we just read. We see that it purchases the church of God. As we read in Acts 20 verse 28.

[2:55] Where the elders are exhorted to take him to the flock of which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.

[3:07] The value of the church of God purchased with his own blood. The value of the church is seen there. In the value of the blood being precious. The church is precious too. It's a precious glorious privilege we have to get together with brothers and sisters here below as we prepare for the time when we'll be forever together in the hereafter.

[3:33] The three things we see stand out of the blood that I've noted. It's innocent blood. Innocent blood. Perfect blood. We know it's without spot. It's spotless. It's pure. Unadulterated. The blood of Jesus of a sinless, spotless lamb.

[3:54] And it speaks to us of substitution. That innocent blood. Innocent. Had to be innocent. It had to be perfect blood. Speaks to us of substitution. We see, secondly, it was shed blood. The blood had to be poured out. It was shed blood.

[4:11] It was shed blood. And it was shed blood. And it is applied blood. The blood has to be applied. As we see through the word of God.

[4:41] The blood was applied. As the covenant of blood was made. Right through the pages of scripture. Because as Leviticus 17.11 says, the light is in the blood. He's given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that make of an atonement for a soul.

[5:00] That's Leviticus 17.11. So let's just travel through the pages of scripture just briefly to consider the blood. Consider the blood today. The blood is a repeated theme. The blood was there with Abraham and Isaac.

[5:15] And Genesis 22.12.12. And Genesis 22.12.1-13. We see the account there. And what did God do? God will provide himself a lamb. God will provide himself a lamb.

[5:29] We see it there at the time of Passover. Where God's great deliverance of his people was made possible by the blood. In Exodus 12. We see that Moses sprinkled the people with the blood. In Exodus 24.8.

[5:45] A sign of sanctifying. Even though the people then shortly after went into gross sin. And yet the blood was a sign as a sprinkling upon the people of God's capacity to make us holy.

[5:59] We see the blood in the tabernacle. In the colours of the tabernacle we see purple for royalty. We see blue for the heavenly dimension. And we see scarlet for the blood redemption.

[6:11] The blood was there right through in so many pictures. So what are the benefits of this blood? What are the benefits of the blood? We see that the blood washes our sins away.

[6:22] In Revelation 1. It says unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins. In his own blood is made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[6:38] That was the cry. That was the song that they sang. And then it says behold he cometh with the clouds. And every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him. And all kinders of the earth shall wail because of him.

[6:51] Even so. Amen. Even so. He has washed us from our sins in his own blood. And this cleansing power of the blood. It's still happening right now.

[7:04] Because in 1 John 1 verse 7. 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.

[7:20] Cleanseth. Present tense. It's a continual effect. A continuous effect of cleaning or cleansing of the washing of the blood.

[7:32] There's the peace with God through the blood. In Colossians 1 verse 20 it says. And having made peace through the blood of his cross. In Romans 5 verse 9.

[7:43] We see the blood justifies. It says. Much more than being now justified by the blood. By his blood. We shall be saved from wrath through him.

[7:54] So we see. Just to recap thus far. He redeems us. He washes us. He gives us peace. And he justifies us. And before we are saved.

[8:04] We are separated from God. We are cut off from him. There's a big barrier. A big boundary. A separation. It says. Isaiah 59. Our Lord says. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God.

[8:20] And your sins have hid his face from you. That he will not hear. But thank God. The blood makes that connection again. We see in Ephesians 2 verse 13.

[8:32] It says. But now in Christ Jesus. You who are sometimes were far off. Are made nigh by the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ makes us closer to God.

[8:45] Even though lost. The Bible says. Of the lost. We are enemies of the cross of Christ. Philippians 3 verse 18. Yet now by the blood. We are brought near. We are brought nigh.

[8:56] Made nigh. And we are brought into peace. We are brought into access. Unto our God. As it says in Hebrews 10 verse 19. Having therefore. For every boldness.

[9:08] To enter into the holiest. By the blood of Jesus. We have got a privilege here. To remember the blood. And it is our privilege.

[9:20] To enter that holiest. By the blood of Jesus today. In a figurative way. As it were. And yet in a real spiritual way.

[9:31] That access is always available. It is always made possible for us. In Hebrews 9 verse 14. It says. That the blood cleanses our conscience. You know.

[9:42] You might think. I am too far away from God. My sins have separated me from God. I am not worthy today. I know that I stumble and fail. I know that my conscience.

[9:53] Is filled with memories. With thoughts. Of sins I have committed. Of neglect. Of my failings. Of my miserable. Sinful inclinations. Yet the Bible says.

[10:04] We have entered. We can enter. Into the holiest. By the blood of Jesus. It says. In Hebrews 9 verse 14. How much more. Shall the blood of Christ. Talking in the context.

[10:16] Of the Old Testament. Sacrifices. How much more. Shall the blood of Christ. Who through the eternal spirit. Offer himself. Without spot to God.

[10:26] Purge your conscience. Purge. Or cleanse. Wash. Clean. Your conscience. Purge. Your conscience. From dead works.

[10:36] To serve. The living God. There is a cleansing. Of our mind. A cleansing. Of our thoughts. Of our. Of our thinking patterns. A cleansing.

[10:47] Of our conscience. A cleansing. Away of our guilt. Of our shame. So that we can have. New minds. That think like he does. So that we can discern. Biblically.

[10:58] Right from wrong. He can purge. Your conscience. From dead works. To serve. The living God. And lastly. The blood of Christ. Comes. To give us power.

[11:08] To overcome. We read back in Revelation. Where the saints. Were rejoicing. They overcame him. By the blood. Of the lamb. And by the word. Of their testimony.

[11:19] And they loved not their lives. Unto the dead. Of course it's talking. In the context. Of the martyrs. Of revelation. But I believe. We too. Can overcome. By the blood. Of the lamb. We too.

[11:29] Can have victory. By the blood. Of the lamb. Today. And I want to urge you. To realize that today. Today. Today.