Purchased by His blood

[0:00] It's been said that preaching and worship is meant to be didactic. That's a big word this morning. Didactic.

[0:20] ! In other words, it teaches us. It's a teaching element. That's why we love the songs that we sing here because there's meaning. There's doctrine. There's teaching. There's something that you can learn and we can teach one another.

[0:35] As it says in Colossians 3, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

[0:48] As we're singing, there's doctrine there. There's teaching. We're teaching one another. We're learning and we're being grounded, being established as we put these doctrinal truths into the songs that we sing. And a like verse puts it, Ephesians 5, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.

[1:10] And in our singing, we're glorifying God. We're glorifying Him. There's a teaching that's going on. And also at this time, even at this time, as we join together in the breaking of bread together, as we break bread together, there's a vital lesson, vital lessons we can learn.

[1:27] It's a corporate time of learning, of teaching, of reminding, of praise, of thanksgiving. All of these things. Powerful symbols are here. Powerful reminders for us of His divine deliverance and of our thanksgiving in return.

[1:45] And the word tells us that God has purchased His church. He's purchased His church. In Acts 20, we read, Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which God, the Holy Ghost, have made your overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

[2:05] The exhortation there was for the elders, the ministers, to feed the church, to shepherd the church, the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood.

[2:19] Here's the vital truths here. God has purchased His church with His own blood. The word of God says that God's blood has purchased the blood-bought people of God.

[2:32] He has purchased with His own blood. Some Bible versions take that away, which I think is a very big shame. But the King James Bible says that teaches us clearly the church of God, which He, God, has purchased with His own blood.

[2:49] We need this truth. We need this Bible. We need this table. And here at this table, we're reminded of some things. There's some telling truths here.

[3:00] We have firstly an invitation. Our Lord is the host who welcomes us into His presence. An invitation. Secondly, we see there's an examination.

[3:11] In this holy time, we are asking God to shine the searchlight of His Holy Spirit into the very inward core of our being. And thirdly, we see there's a proclamation, a showing forth of the Lord's death till He come.

[3:27] Till He come. So consider, firstly, the invitation. The invitation today. Our glorious Master invites us in. He beckons us. He welcomes us in to His very presence.

[3:38] To leave behind the rags of our own righteousness, which are really inadequate rags of efforts and sin. To receive, instead of those unworthy rags of our righteousness, to receive the glorious, shining, perfect robe of His righteousness.

[4:01] Of His righteousness in exchange. So He invites us to leave our beggarly ways and be transformed into His own precious people. What will your response be to this amazing invitation?

[4:13] Imagine if you went home and opened your letterbox and there was an invitation from some very important person. And you're a VIP on the guest list.

[4:26] That's the context here, isn't it? Of that invitation. And Paul says there's a choice to be made here. He writes of a cup and of a table.

[4:38] And he says of an alternative cup and an alternative table. He says, he writes of the Lord's table and of the table of devils. In 1 Corinthians 10, 21.

[4:50] And he exhorts the people in Corinth. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of the devils. You've got to make your choice between one or the other. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils.

[5:03] You can't partake of two tables. You've got to choose which cup and you've got to choose which table. And notice it's the Lord's table. It's His table. His table.

[5:14] And you are invited. You have an invitation to this table. He invites you. Personally invites you. If you are the church of God, which is purchased with His own blood, He's inviting you now.

[5:27] Inviting you now. And how will you respond to the RSVP? Now some people, they politely decline, don't they? Some impolitely decline. I pray you won't decline this invitation.

[5:38] This invite. You won't think of some excuse. You will know, yes, I want to come. I want to come to the table. And all the expenses are being paid for this table. For this banquet.

[5:49] The invitation is free. At no cost to you. He has paid the full cost. All expenses are being paid. For this banqueting table.

[6:03] And the Word says that this man receiveth sinners. That's a wonderful, glorious truth, isn't it? You might think, some will think, I'm not worthy. I'm not able.

[6:14] I'm not ready. No, none of us can be. None of us are. None of us are able. None of us can. But He receives sinners. Amen? That's the good news.

[6:24] And there's an invitation and it says, Whosoever will may come. Whosoever will. It's worldwide, universal, this invitation. But there's some things that you must leave behind.

[6:37] Those filthy rags, so you can get His perfect robe of righteousness. Those works, you've got to receive His fierce word. You've got to stop drinking from the devil's cup and drink the Lord's cup.

[6:49] You've got to stop sitting at the devil's table and start sitting at the Lord's table. A cup of the Lord, the table of the Lord. And He invites. And He's whoever will may come.

[7:00] The lepers can come. The lame, the prostitutes can come. The very sinful of the sinful can come. Even me. Even you. Even we. To the table.

[7:12] To the table. And there's an examination. We see there is an invitation. We see there is an examination. An examination. And the examination is for you to make.

[7:24] Not for me or for others to make. If others looked at me, they could find many faults. My wife could give you a big long list, if you like, of all my faults. And, well, she's only known some of them.

[7:35] But God knows all of them, doesn't He? He knows all of our faults. He knows all of our inadequacies. All of our failings. And this table speaks to us of an examination. Who loves examinations?

[7:47] Some of you studying. You know what examinations are like. Phew. But this is an examination. And the table is a place for examination. It speaks to us of an encounter with a holy God.

[8:00] A holy God. Our risen Lord is present. He is the host. He beckons us in. And this encounter is called an examination. And we see in Isaiah's time.

[8:11] As he saw the angels crying, Holy! Holy! Holy! Isaiah says, Woe is me! I am undone! Undone!

[8:23] Because I am a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. As I am you.

[8:36] Holy! Holy! Holy! Undone! Undone! Undone! Unworthy! Unclean! Examination is called for today. For you, for me.

[8:47] Each one. Personally. And he searches our hearts. The one with those x-ray eyes. You know, Superman doesn't have anything on what God can do.

[8:58] He can search into the very core of you. And of me. Of the whole world. And are you ready for communion? Communion with a holy God. A holy God.

[9:09] Be like Isaiah. I'm undone. I'm unclean. I'm unworthy. But the invitation is still extended to you. If you'll just come.

[9:20] And the table that speaks of communion, of that vertical fellowship, that vertical communion, of that horizontal communion. You're with brothers and sisters today. Isn't that good? Amen. That's why I love church.

[9:31] I can be with my brothers and sisters. It's important. It's family. It's blessing. And it's a communion time. And so we see an invitation. We see an examination. We see a proclamation now.

[9:43] A proclamation. This table speaks of a proclamation. A proclamation. We're showing something. We're heralding something. We're rejoicing. They're declaring something.

[9:54] That's timeless. That's eternal. We're proclaiming the Lord's death till he come. There's a time limit to this table.

[10:05] Till he come. And we're proclaiming the Passover lamb. As the people of leaving Egypt knew the salvation, the deliverance that came because of that lamb slain, of the blood applied to their houses.

[10:21] And the angel passed over those who had the blood. As the sign of God's saving power. And so too we have that sign today. And we're proclaiming the vital purchase, the vital witness of the blood, the awesome purchase, the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

[10:43] His own blood. And this table is a witness that we're proclaiming. The life, the death, the resurrection. A proclamation right now. For time and for eternity.

[10:55] From before the earth was made. He was slain for us. In God's plan. In God's intention. God's purpose. And so there's a proclamation now.

[11:07] The awesome power of God. Think of this table. Where was this table? This table was in the upper room. The upper room. Consider that. In the upper room as they sat.

[11:19] As they reclined really. Around this time of eating. Of feasting. As they reclined there in the upper room. As it were around this table of sorts. That as they ate and drank.

[11:32] Of that Passover lamb. It was a prophecy. Of the lamb of God. Slain for us. For the sins of the world.

[11:42] And in that upper room. As he came. And as he invited. And as they examined. And as they proclaimed. And as they were in that upper room. They.

[11:55] Had a tangible sense of. The cross. In reflection. They realized what it meant. At the time. They may not have understood. In that upper room.

[12:07] In that same upper room. The risen Lord came. After the cross. And. They beheld him. His hands.

[12:18] His feet. His side. Thomas cried. My Lord. And my God. In that same upper room. And in that same upper room. A third time.

[12:28] As the early church met for prayer. It was in that same. Upper room. Where the church of God received power from on high. Power. From on high.

[12:39] And he is just as surely with us now. Just as surely now. Right now. Here today. As we make that proclamation. We proclaim the power of the blood.

[12:52] The blood of Jesus Christ. That provides for us. Feel invited. Feel. That time of examination. Understand the proclamation.

[13:02] Of what we think. What we're doing. Is something. Precious. Something. Eternal. Something. Beyond. Words. We can't. Put it into words.

[13:13] What it means. What the cross means today. I'll call on some ushers now. Ruka Kuya. Michael. Ian. Peter. Feel free to come forward.

[13:24] Oh. John. Is it? I haven't picked people. Sorry. So. I'm a bit negligent. In that department. But whoever's been picked. If you're called.

[13:35] And chosen. Many call. A few are chosen. Bless you. Men of God. Let's be waited on. And we'll pass the bread and cup.

[13:46] And hold together. We'd love people to serve. If you'd like opportunity to serve. It's not a select group. It's those that are willing. And you might feel. I'm just a new Christian.

[13:57] I'm not sure what to do. Just get involved. Just say. Be a willing volunteer. Let me know that you'd like to get more involved. And I'll find a job for you to do. I've got plenty.

[14:10] Praise God. God. but seriously we have got a flyer at the back that says you and your church how would you like to get engaged be a part I know some are doing things giving out tracts in lots of ways witnessing and being a part of lots of opportunities for ministry and be a part of that just as we waited on let's spend a few more moments just thinking about what this all means the table consider the proclamation I got some of these notes from Keith Piper from his recent book and what the blood means the blood provides pardon our debt is cancelled and paid in full pardon says in Matthew 26 for this my blood is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Hebrews 9 the writer says without shedding of blood there is no remission there's pardon today that's what we're proclaiming there's propitiation today another big word for you today to propitiate means to appease an offended God an offended person in this case God and the blood it says God has set forth

[15:26] Christ to be the propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God we're proclaiming pardon we're proclaiming propitiation he has done what had to be done to satisfy the wrath of God against our sin he took the wrath for us we're proclaiming justification the blood provides justification so justify needs to declare free from the penalty of sin on the grounds of Christ's righteousness Romans 5 verse 9 it says much more than being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him we're proclaiming justification justification justified by God we're proclaiming redemption redemption it means to redeem to buy back as a slave purchased bought from a slave market rescued and reclaimed by payment made in whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

[16:34] Colossians 1 14 Hebrews 9 it says neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entered in to once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us we're proclaiming redemption we're proclaiming atonement the blood atones for us atonement atonement at one ment there's different ways of putting it but basically you're reconciling enemies reconciled brought together made friends brought into harmony and unity reconciled there's atonement today tells of Hebrew Leviticus 17 an atonement for your souls the blood makes an atonement for the soul we're proclaiming atonement we're proclaiming peace in Colossians 1 it tells of he's made peace through the blood of his cross we're proclaiming boldness today to enter in Hebrews 10 verse 19 having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus we're proclaiming cleansing the blood of Jesus

[17:44] Christ cleanseth us from all sin Revelation 1 they sang unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood they had a new song in Revelation as they sang the new song in Revelation 5 verse 9 thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou hast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation there's even going to be some Aussies there around the throne of God Amen Would you like to believe that you'll be in that number?

[18:23] Amen Thou art worthy you've redeemed us to God out of every nation even Australia even Australia even wherever you're from from your kindred from your tongue from your nation and we're proclaiming that today and it says they overcame him by the blood of the lamb by the word of their testimony they loved not their lives unto the dead there's proclamation of his overcoming power and there's proclamation of the precious blood I know Edmund loves this one for as much as you know that you're not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot so consider this brothers and sisters today family of God that there is an invitation to the table he's the host and his arms are extended wide those pierced hands are extended wide open to welcome you to wrap his arms around you to receive you whoever you be he still receives sinners even today sinners saved by his precious grace and love there's an invitation there's an examination for you to make for me to make for him to stir in us to be examined to be making that self judgment today and to ask him to search search me oh God search me oh God and there's a proclamation there's many truths we can proclaim the church of God which he has purchased with his own precious blood soul soul soul

[20:00] Thank you.