The blood of Christ is the basis of the New Covenant. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus offered the cup of wine to His disciples and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). The pouring of the wine in the cup symbolized the blood of Christ which would be poured out for all who would ever believe in Him.
When He shed His blood on the cross, He did away with the Old Covenant requirement for the continual sacrifices of animals. Their blood was not sufficient to cover the sins of the people, except on a temporary basis, because sin against a holy and infinite God requires a holy and infinite sacrifice.
“But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3). While the blood of bulls and goats were a “reminder” of sin, “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) paid in full the debt of sin we owe to God, and we need no further sacrifices for sin.
Jesus said, “It is finished” as He was dying, and He meant just that—the entire work of redemption was completed forever, “having obtained eternal redemption” for us (Hebrews 9:12). Not only does the blood of Christ redeem believers from sin and eternal punishment, but “His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14 NCV).
This means that not only are we now free from having to offer sacrifices which are “useless” to obtain salvation, but we are free from having to rely on worthless and unproductive works of the flesh to please God. Because the blood of Christ has redeemed us, we are now new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and by His blood we are freed from sin to serve the living God, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him forever.
Pure, perfect blood was a requirement to reconcile us back to God. We often do not like to think about our sins and the devastation of separation that they have caused us from the Creator, but in reality, we are under the punishment of sin which is death.
As we read of blood sacrifices paid on behalf of the sins of the people of God, we are even more aware of what would have been required of us had Jesus not come. We are significantly blessed to be on this side of the cross. Jesus’ blood covered all sins in one divine moment of death, He brought us eternal life.
SCRIPTURAL TEXT: Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22, Colossians 1:14
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this sermon on the blood of Jesus are to:
- Understand the meaning of the blood of Jesus.
- Examine the concept of Sin.
- Fully understand the benefits of the blood of Jesus.
What Does the Blood of Jesus Mean?
The phrase “The Blood of Jesus Christ” is used several times in the New Testament and is the expression of the sacrificial death and full atoning work of Jesus on our behalf. References to the Savior’s blood include the reality that He literally bled on the cross, but more significantly that He bled and died for sinners.
The blood of Christ has the power to atone for an infinite number of sins committed by an infinite number of people throughout the ages, and all whose faith rests in that blood will be saved. The reality of the blood of Christ as the means of atonement for sin has its origin in the Mosaic Law.
Once a year, the priest was to make an offering of the blood of animals on the altar of the temple for the sins of the people. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). But this was a blood offering that was limited in its effectiveness, which is why it had to be offered again and again. This was a foreshadowing of the “once for all” sacrifice which Jesus offered on the cross (Hebrews 7:27). But Jesus Christ offered His blood for us once and for all.
The Concept of Sin
There is no way we are going to talk about the blood of Jesus Christ without Understanding the concept of Sin.
What is Sin?
Sin is a transgression of law and rebellion against God. Sin is any action that harms the relationship we have with God and/or another person. It is choosing to act in a way that pulls us away from God
Three (3) things to note about sin;
Sin Deceives: Hebrews 3:13; …none of you maybe hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Sin has already deceived you since deceived Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden. When we keep on sinning, we say, “It is okay. God loves you. God is forgiving.” If we keep sinning while telling ourselves that God loves us and understands, then we have been deceived, thinking that we are the exception to sin’s consequences. You are deceived.
Sin Destroys: All you need to do is to look around and realize how destructive sin is. Although sin takes many pathways, they all ultimately lead to the destruction. Sins destroys people, families, marriages, children, jobs, and the future. Sin is destructive by nature.
Sin Brings Death: Ultimately, sin brings death. Sin brings death over a period of time. Sometimes it’s gradual death or it may come in an instant. However, the Bible says that those who sin will die. Ezekiel 18:4; The one who sins is the one who will die. Romans 6:23; For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
BENEFITS OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
There are different things we benefit from the blood of Jesus Christ that He shed for Us and we will be considering few of the in this sermon. They are;
1. Forgiveness of Sin: You and I have been forgiven through the blood that Jesus shed when He gave up His life. “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22 NASB).
2. Cleansed from Sin: Our consciences have been washed by the blood of Christ Jesus because we have truly been purified from all sin. (See Hebrews 9:14.)
3. Redemption: Forgiven and cleansed, we find that we have been redeemed from the clutches of the powers of darkness. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7 NIV)
4. Justification: It is one thing to believe that you are forgiven, cleansed, and redeemed, but it is another to believe that it is just as if you had never sinned in the first place. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). When I am justified, it is “just as if I had never sinned. I am righteous.
5. Sanctification: Now we can take it one step further and declare that we have been set apart for a holy calling sanctified. Each believer is a special vessel set apart for God. Only Jesus’s blood can make this possible. Because of Him, we can walk on the straight and narrow way. (See Matthew 7:14.)
6. Peace of/with God: Because of Jesus’s blood, we can have perfect peace. There will still be plenty of battles to fight, but the outcome has been determined on Calvary: “It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him all things in heaven and on earth for Christ’s death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood” (Colossians 1:20 TLB).
7. Access to the throne of God: Jesus’s blood has made possible your complete reconciliation with the Holy Father in heaven. Now, covered as you are in the blood of Christ, you are like the high priest who was invited to enter the Most Holy Place without being struck dead. You can enter the most holy throne room of heaven with perfect impunity: “And so, dear brothers, now we may walk right into the very Holy of Holies, where God is, because of the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19 TLB).
CONCLUSION
When you think about the meaning and importance of the blood of Jesus in Christianity, it is everything. In Hebrews 9:22 we are reminded that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. If Jesus did not die on the cross and shed his blood for our sins then we have no hope of forgiveness. That means that this blood that Jesus shed has power first and foremost to wash away sins and that should mean everything to a Christian. Jesus Himself knew that
His blood would be given in a greater way. Rather than giving life to one or a few other people, His blood gives life to all who accept Him. We see from the beginning that the consequence of sin is death. Since life is in the blood, from the beginning we see God Himself teach humanity to sacrifice animals to cover their sins. (Genesis 3:21) The lives of sacrificed animals were the temporary offerings over the sins of the people performed by the high priests.
Hebrews 5:1 says, “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” But the blood of Jesus gave a permanent solution and cure to sin and death. Hallelujah. In order for Jesus’ blood to make a difference, He needed to be perfect. Jesus’ perfection was a result of Him being fully God and fully man.
Sinful people needed a sinless Savior. Jesus purified us whiter than snow with His perfect blood. Maybe you are not feeling valuable or seen today? Perhaps you feel that you are too dirty for Jesus. I encourage you to take heart and believe His words that His sacrifice took care of every sin and you will be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.