The Blood of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 5-29-2019

Hebrews 9:11-14

Introduction:

A.  A Better Covenant; A Better Tabernacle; A Better High Priest; and a Better Blood!  This is what chapter 9 is all about!  For thousands of years, an earthly high priest slew an earthly animal, took earthly blood and offered it upon the Mercy Seat for an atonement for sin.

B.  As I preach this evening, I just want you to know that the BLOOD IS STILL THERE!  The Blood of Jesus Christ; the Blood of God!  Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!  This is what Hebrews, chapter 9 is all about!

C.  It is the Blood of Christ that redeems us; it is the Blood of Christ that justifies us; it is the Blood of Christ that sanctifies us; it is the Blood of Christ that cleanses our heart, soul, and conscience; it is the Blood of Christ gives us peace; it is the Blood of Christ that allows us to have fellowship with our heavenly Father! 

D.  Hebrews 9:11-26.  Concerning the shedding of blood for both atonement and salvation, God established two covenants. 

Hebrews 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to theblood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.  (This verse contrasts the “new covenant of propitiation” with “that of Abel” or the “old covenant of atonement.” The blood of the first testament was of animal sacrifices which brought atonement or a covering of sin until the blood of the new covenant, which was the blood of Christ, brought about the remission of sin!)

E.  I want to quote J. P. Morgan, a noted financier and multi-millionaire of an earlier American generation.  Before his death, he 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. 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."

F.  J. P. Morgan recognized the priceless value of the atoning sacrifice of Christ's blood that was shed in His death on the cross.

The Blood of Christ

1.  It is Personal Blood.  It is the blood of God, though we do not fully understand this, which was different from our blood.  I can no more explain this statement than I can the conception and birth of Christ.  I just believe what the Bible says! 

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

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.  (Jesus Christ’s conception, birth, body, life, death, resurrection, and blood were different from ours.) 

2.  It is Pure Blood.  The blood of Christ was not subject to Adamic sin!   The Bible declares that Christ’s blood was not corruptible!  Blood corrupts with it dies.  The blood of Christ was incorruptible and could not die.  The blood of Christ is as much alive today as it was the day on which it was shed.

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  (19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  (Two things in these verses stick out to me: a)  It is not corruptible in nature, it is incorruptible   b)  It is precious  in the sight of God.)

1 John 1:7  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.  (According to the Bible, that same blood that Christ shed is still alive and available for the cleansing of the sinful.  That means it remains, not perished.)

3.  It is Precious Blood.  I hear a lot of so-called men of God say that this blood was not all gathered and applied to the Mercy Seat in Heaven. 

1 Peter 2:6-7  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious (precious to God): and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  (7)  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious (precious to the child of God): but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  (To deny the precious blood of Christ tells us something about the spiritual nature of the one who denies it!)

4.  It is Presented Blood.  The blood of Christ did not run into the ground and perish but was purposefully placed on the mercy seat in heaven but our High Priest.  I believe that the Bible teaches two ascensions.

John 20:14-17  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.  (15)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.  (16)  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.  (17) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.  (Mary was not allowed to touch Him because the resurrected Lord was now our purified High Priest.)

Matthew 28:6-9  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  (7)  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.  (8)  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.  (9)  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.  (Now they could touch the Lord.  Something had changed from the account given in John.)

Luke 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.  (Again, in Luke, the Lord gave permission for the disciples to “handle” Him.)

Hebrews 9:11-12  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (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.  (As the blood of bulls and goats were applied to the mercy seat under the old covenant, the blood of Christ was applied to the mercy seat in heaven under the new covenant.)

5.  It is Powerful Blood.  The blood of Christ can make the vilest sinner clean!  His blood can purge every sin ever committed and save every sinner who will accept it.

Romans 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

6.  It is Permanent Eternal Blood.  Animal blood had to be applied often but the blood of Christ only once forever.  If it is incorruptible and precious (and it is), then it must be therefore eternal (which it is). 

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.

7.  It is Propitiatory Saving Blood.  Our salvation is not through the death of Christ but through the blood of Christ! 

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;  (It is of no wonder that the blood of Christ is under the same attack as the Word of God.  Salvation comes through faith hearing the Word of God and personal application of the blood of God.  There can be salvation without either!)

8.  It is Penalizing Blood!  To reject the propitiation of Christ is to damn oneself and possibly your children. 

Matthew 27:24-25  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but thatrather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. (25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  (Pilate washed his hands of Christ and placed the decision to crucify our Lord into the hands of the people He came to save.  From the hands of one to the heads of others.  That precious blood has been on the heads of their children for 2,000 years.)  

The Obligations Of The Saints

Temple Baptist Church - 5-26-2019

Romans 15:14-21

Introduction: 

A.  Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, recognized his responsibility to the nation from which he came.  He is now ready to take the contribution mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16 to the poor saints at Jerusalem. 

B.  He could have simply said that God had called him to the gentiles and that the Jews were the responsibility of Peter and the other apostles.  With salvation comes responsibility! 

C.  Some think that going to Heaven is all that salvation is about, but there is much more to it than that.  Salvation is not only an eternal hope, but a temporal life lived for Christ.  With divine privilege goes divine responsibility. 

D.  I want to look at some areas of responsibility for the children of God. 

E.  Our first responsibility is to God!  That should be the priority that compels us to live for God and others instead of for self.  John 20:19-21  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  (20)  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  (21)  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

F.  To be used of God, we must:

1.  To Be Holy – Holiness is a subject no longer preached and, when preached, no longer heeded!  1 Peter 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

a.  By Putting On The New Man - Ephesians 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Romans 12:1   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Corinthians 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Philippians 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always,so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Colossians 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

b.  By Putting Off The Old Man - 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Ephesians 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

2.  To Be Faithful – Because of the lack of holiness, faithfulness is in great decline.  Colossians 1:2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Paul put the words “saints” and “faithful brethren” joined by “and” which makes them equal.  Proverbs 20:6   Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?)

a.  Faithful In Stewardship - 1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.  (“Stewards” – a distributor, a manager, and overseer.  God’s blessing upon us physically, financially, spiritually are to be managed and distributed, not hoarded!)

b.  Faithful In Service - 1 Timothy 1:12   And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  (God calls only faithful people.  I learned long ago, if you want something done, give the job to someone who is already busy.  They will find time to get it done whereas people who are not busy generally are not busy for a reason.  There is so much to be done.  Get involved!)

1 Corinthians 4:17   For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus,who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

3.  To Be Fruitful - John 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

a.  Fruitful In Soul-Winning - Romans 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

b.  Fruitful In Righteousness - 2 Corinthians 9:10  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Philippians 1:11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

c.  Fruitful In The Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

d.  Fruitful In Service - Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

e.  Fruitful In Worship - Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

4.  To Be Obedient - 1 Peter 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Romans 16:19  For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Abiding In Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 5-19-2019

John 15:1-11

Introduction: 

A.  Jesus Christ is the True Vine and God the Father is the husbandman—the one who tends to the vineyard.  When a person comes to Christ through faith, he or she is then born out of that vine and draws life and productivity through it.

B.  These verses have been interpreted to say that a man can be saved and then lost but this is not what Christ is saying.  These verses speak of fellowship not relationship.

Acts 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

C.  As saved, we have our life in Him, and our productivity comes through Him.

Colossians 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Romans 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

D.  The problem with this interpretation is found in the vast number of “supposedly” saved who go back to the old way of life because they were never attached to the True Vine.  True Branches grow out of the True Vine and draw their life and nourishment from Him.  No sap; no fruit; no branch!

E.  If Christ is the True Vine and He is; if it is only through Christ that we have life and it is, if it is only by Christ that we produce, and it is, then our goal and desire should be to abide in Him.

F.  In Matthew 11:28-30, our Lord gave us the invitation, “Come unto me, allye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  (We have come unto Him and found Him faithful.  We have never been sorry that we came at His invitation.)

G.  Now that we are saved, we are once again given an invitation.  It is to “Abide in me!”  Christ is simply saying, “Stay with me!”  Shall we not find Him as faithful in sanctification as we found Him in salvation?

1.  In salvation (“Come unto me”), we had the help of the drawing of the Holy Spirit.

2.  In sanctification (“Live for me”), we have the help of the power of the Holy Spirit!

3.  In service (“Stay with me”), in days of so many leaving, we need to be abiding!

H.  Abiding in Christ is to:

1.  Set at His feet as Mary sat - Luke 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

2.  Meditate upon His Word - Psalms 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

3.  Listen to His voice - 1 Kings 19:12  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

4.  Walk in His steps - Job 23:11  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

1.  Abiding in Christ implies the we are one with Christ - John 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  (Some never abide because they are not attached!  You must “get in” before you “get out!”)

2.  Abiding in Christ means that we are in constant communion with 
Christ at all times - 2 Corinthians 13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (The connection between the branch must never be broken for to do so cuts off the flow of sap that gives both life and fruitfulness.)

3.  Abiding in Christ involves our total dependence upon Him - John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  (As the branch is nothing, the child of God is nothing without Christ.  It is the flow that sustains our spiritual lives.)
4.  Abiding in Christ involves total obedience to Him - John 15:9-10, 14-15  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love…Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  (The branch does as the vine dictates.  It bears after the will of the vine.  As a branch must bear the right fruit, so the child of God must bear the right spiritual fruit.)

5.  Abiding with Christ is a continual fellowship -  John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (As long as the branch is attached to the vine, it is one with the vine.  As the vine prospers, so the branch prospers.  If we abide in Christ’s fellowship, we prosper.)

God’s Grace To The Gentiles

Temple Baptist Church - 5-12-2019

Romans 15:8-13; Romans 11:1-26

Introduction: 

A.  Verse 8 – Here we find God’s promises to Israel, the Jewish people. Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

B.  Jesus Christ was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, the Seed of the Woman, Jehovah God in the flesh.  He came in fulfillment of God’s promises made by the Prophets.

C.  Jesus Christ fulfilled every aspect of both the Law and the Prophets.  But, the Jews stumbled because the expected a King that would deliver them from the power of Rome instead of a Sacrifice that would die for their sin.

D.  Though the Nation of Israel rejected Christ (John 1:11), individuals believed on Him and were gloriously saved.

E.  Through Israel’s rejection and blindness, the gospel came to the Gentiles.  Israel’s blindness became the Gentile’s blessing!

1.  Vs. 9 – We Gentiles Should Glorify Him For His Mercy.  Romans 15:9  And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

Romans 9:25-26 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Matthew 15:22-28   And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.  But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of  the house of Israel.  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

2.  Vs. 10 – We Gentiles Should Rejoice In His Great Salvation.  Romans 15:10  And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

Colossians 3:9-11  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  (10)  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  (11)  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

3.  Vs. 11 – We Gentiles Should Praise Him For His Loving Kindness.  (Laud – to honor, to promise, to vow)  Romans 15:11  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

Psalms 117:1-2  O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.  (2)  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

4.  Vs. 12 – We Gentiles Should Obey His Lordship.  Romans 15:12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Jeremiah 16:19-21  O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.  (20)  Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?  (21)  Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.

5.  Vs. 13 – We Gentiles Should Trust Him (brings joy and peace)  Romans 15:19  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,  (17)  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.