The Precious Blood of Christ

1 Peter 1:17-25

(Temple 4-1-12)

Introduction:

A. As we near Resurrection Sunday, our hearts should turn to the cross of Calvary. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to both Jew and Gentile. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth! The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is to be believed and received in order to be saved and go to heaven. “It is finished” differentiates Christianity from every other religion. Theirs is “do” while ours is “done!”

B. As we read these verses in 1 Peter, we find that the Lord makes much of the blood of Christ. We that are saved need to also make much of the blood! Our lives here are short at best and eternity awaits us. One day, just like today and it may be today, we will leave this world behind and step out into eternity and in that day, the only thing that will be of any importance is what we did with Jesus Christ.

C. Before his death, J. P. Morgan—noted financier and multi-millionaire—composed a will consisting of 37 articles and 10,000 words. While Mr. Morgan had been involved in transactions involving millions of dollars during his illustrious business career, he left no doubt as to what was the greatest transaction he had ever made. J. P. Morgan recognized the priceless value of the atoning sacrifice of Christ's blood that was shed in His death on the cross. In his will he wrote:

"I commit my soul in the hands of my Savior, full of confidence that having redeemed me and washed me with His most precious blood, He will present me faultless before the throne of my Heavenly Father. I entreat my children to maintain and defend at all hazards and at any cost of personal sacrifice, the blessed doctrine of complete atonement through the blood of Christ with regard to the believer's salvation."

D. The cross of Christ is the believer’s sacrifice, while the resurrection is the believer’s surety and the blood of Christ is the believer’s security. The lamb slain could not save the Hebrew in Egypt without the application of the blood on the door post. The Paschal Lamb’s death could not atone for the sins of the people of Israel without the application of the blood on the Mercy Seat. The death of Christ could not remit the sins of the believer unless the blood was applied to the Mercy Seat in heaven.

1. The Product of The Blood – vs 18 “redeemed”

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Not through the life or through the death of Christ but through His blood! He could have lived a sinless, died on Calvary, resurrected from the dead, and us die lost because it is these things that led to the blood being applied!)

2. The Permanence of The Blood – vs 18 “not redeemed with corruptible things” eternal

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (The blood must be there for all eternity. It was applied once for all and remains upon the mercy seat forever.)

3. The Preeminence of The Blood – vs 18 “not…as silver and gold”

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (The bible makes much of the blood while man minimizes it. The blood is called “slaughter house religion” and has been removed from song books by the religionists who are offended by it.)

4. The Power of The Blood – vs 19 “But with the precious blood of Christ”

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (It is still the blood of Christ that saves from sin and it has the power to save every sinner who has ever or will ever live. Its power never diminishes.)

5. The Preciousness of The Blood – vs 19 “precious blood of Christ”

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Precious to God [not one drop unrecovered] and precious to the sinner as it removes self-worth which results in a works salvation.)

6. The Price of The Blood – vs 19 “blood of Christ”

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (It cost God His Son; it cost Jesus Christ His life; it cost heaven its Best; and it cost us NOTHING! Salvation is free, not cheap!)

7. The Purity of The Blood – vs 19 “without blemish and without spot”

Matthew 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (Christ’s blood is called the blood of God in Acts 20:28. I personally believe that Christ never shed a drop before His passion. The blood of God cannot die because it has no Adamic sin, therefore, it cannot clot because clotting is necessary for staunching bleeding. It took every drop of the blood of Christ to save a rotten sinner such as I am.)

8. The Propitiation of The Blood – vs 20 “manifest…for you”

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Christ shed His blood for the saved; He shed His blood for the unsaved; He shed His blood for ME; He shed His blood for YOU!)

9. The Purpose of The Blood – vs 21 “and gave him glory; that you faith and hope might be in God”

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (His blood reconciled Adam’s lost race to the Father and brings glory only to God. Man always glorifies himself in one way or the other but the blood glorifies only our Lord Jesus Christ.)

10. The Preaching of The Blood – vs 25 “the gospel which is preached unto you”

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (We make much of the blood but the blood must be preached! “It’s still the blood that saves from sin; it’s still the blood that cleanses within; from the highest star in heaven to the depths of the sea; it is still the blood of Jesus that brings victory to me!”)