Sermon #39[1] Hebrews
Notes
Title: The Blood
Text: Hebrews 9:13-28
Subject: The Blood of Christ
Date: Tuesday Evening –
Tape # W-20b
Introduction:
The Word of God has a scarlet thread running through it, like
the cord Rahab hung out of her window. That scarlet thread, by which these 66
books is bound together, which unifies everything written upon the pages of
Inspiration, is the blood, the precious blood of Christ. I want, by the grace
of God, to talk to you tonight about The
Blood.
The Scriptures speak constantly about the blood. It is written
in the books of the law, “The life of the flesh is in the blood.” God
told Moses, “The blood shall be to you for a token.” He said, “When I
see the blood, I will pass over you.” When the high priest went into the
holy of holies on the Day Of Atonement, he went in with blood. No man can come
to God without blood atonement.
When our Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper, he took the cup of
wine, held it before his disciples and said, “This is the blood of the New
Testament, shed for many for the remission of sins.” In Hebrews 9:22, we
read, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” That makes the blood
a matter of immense, infinite importance.
These days, it is common for preachers, churches, theologians,
and hymn writers to say as little as possible about the blood. We have become
so educated, refined, and sophisticated that talking about blood is considered
improper, unsophisticated, and rude. But it is still true that “without
shedding of blood is no remission.” Therefore, I want to talk to you this
evening about the blood (Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 18-21).
[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."
[1 Peter 1:18-21] “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: [20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the
world, but was manifest in these last times for you, [21] Who by him do
believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your
faith and hope might be in God.”
That makes me white as snow!
No other fount I know –
Nothing but the blood of
Jesus!
E’er since by faith I saw
the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my
theme,
And shall be till I die!
Proposition: The shedding of Christ’s
precious blood was and is absolutely essential to the saving of our souls. Let
us ever cherish the blood of Christ as that which is precious above all things.
Divisions: Our text tonight is Hebrews
9:13-28. I want to show you four things in these verses.
1. The Efficacy of Christ’s
Blood (vv. 13-14)
2. The Necessity of Christ’s
Blood (vv. 15-17)
3. The Picture of Christ’s
Blood (vv. 18-23)
4. The Application of Christ’s
Blood (vv. 24-28)
Note: The blood represents the
life. The blood of Christ speaks of Christ’s sacrifice of himself.
[Hebrews 9:13-14] "For if
the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?"
The blood of bulls and goats could nerver take away sin. We have
seen this repeatedly (Heb. 10:4). Those sacrifices of the Old Testament were
not intended to remove sin. They simply illustrated the atonement and sacrifice
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But if those Old Testament sacrifices did purify the people, if
they held back the wrath of God, if they sanctified the flesh in an external,
ceremonial way (as they certainly did), -- how much more shall the very blood
of Christ, God's Son, that blood offered to God (without spot, sin or stain)
through the Holy Spirit, offered by design and purpose, thoroughly cleanse us,
purify our souls and deliver us from seeking acceptance through our dead works?
If worshippers in the Old Testament were allowed to come to God
through types, how much more shall we be able, now, in this gospel age, to come
to God in Christ!
If the saints in the Old Testament found comfort and confidence
in types, how much more comfort and assurance do we find in Christ! The blood
of Christ effectually cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7-10).
[1 John 1:7-10] "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. [8] If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
[Hebrews 9:15-17] "And for
this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for
the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance. [16] For where a testament is, there must also of
necessity be the death of the testator. [17] For a testament is of
force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the
testator liveth."
Here the Holy Spirit shows us that Old Testament believers were
redeemed by the death of Christ in exactly the same way we are.
A. This first testament reaches
from Adam to Christ, for Adam and his sons offered blood sacrifices upon an
altar.
B. The transgressions that were
under the first testament are the sins of God’s elect from Adam until Christ's
personal coming into the world.
C. The redemption of these sins
was by the death of Christ (Acts 10:43; John 8:56).
[Acts
10:43] "To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins."
[John 8:56] "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my
day: and he saw it, and was glad."
D. The promise of eternal
inheritance was made to all believers by Christ, the Mediator of the will and
testament (1 Cor. 10:4; Luke 24:44-47).
[1 Corinthians 10:4] "And
did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
[Luke 24:44-47] "And he
said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was
yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law
of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
[45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures, [46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And
that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
E. Wherever there is a will and testament, there must be the death of the testator.
No claim can be made by the heirs until the testator dies. So, too, all that Christ has given to all believers could be ours in actuality only after he, by his death, fulfilled the requirements of law and justice (John 3:14-16; Rom. 3:19-26). In other words, there was an absolute necessity for the death of God’s Son as our Substitute and the Testator of the covenant. Christ must suffer and die if we are to be redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-21).
[John 3:14-16] "And as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."
[Romans 3:19-26] "Now we
know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the
law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty
before God. [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh
be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
[21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; [22] Even the righteousness of
God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [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; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Illustration: The Reading of the Will
[Hebrews 9:18-23]
"Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood. [19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people
according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and
scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
[20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath
enjoined unto you. [21] Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the
tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. [22] And almost all
things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
remission. [23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things
in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves
with better sacrifices than these."
Even the old covenant with Israel was not ratified nor put in
force without blood. When Moses had given them the pattern for the tabernacle
and its services, he took the blood and water (typical of the blood and water
which flowed from the side of Christ, typical also of justification and
sanctification) and sprinkled the book, the roll of the law and covenant and
people.
He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels used in divine
worship. In fact, under the law of Moses almost all things were purified by
means of blood (Lev. 17:11).
[Leviticus 17:11] "For the
life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the
altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh
an atonement for the soul."
Some things were cleansed by water and fire, but without the
blood there was no forgivenesss of sin! No example of pardon, where there is no
blood, can be given. The blood of Christ has been shed; it would be foolish to
suppose pardon without it (1 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:19-21).
[1 Corinthians 5:7] "Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us:"
[Galatians 2:19-21] "For I
through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. [20] I
am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate
the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is
dead in vain."
In Hebrews 9:23 we see that the tabernacle, the mercy seat, the
written law, the priesthood and the nation of Israel were all patterns of what
is in heaven (Heb. 8:5). Christ, our great High Priest, came before the holy
throne of God representing his people, the true, spiritual Israel, “the
Israel of God.” He satisfied the law; he atoned for our sins with his
blood. He prays for us. He perpetually presents a suitable atonement. Now if
all this in heaven is done through his blood, the pattern on earth must have
blood sacrifices.
[Hebrews 9:24-28] "For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us: [25] Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high
priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; [26] For
then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now
once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice
of himself. [27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment: [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without
sin unto salvation."
The Lord Jesus Christ, our great God-man Mediator and High
Priest, is not entered into a holy place made by human hands (as the tabernacle),
which was but a pattern, or picture, of the true tabernacle. He has entered
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
His one sacrifice for our sins was and is enough (Heb.
10:11-14).
[Hebrews 10:10-14] "By the
which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
[12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till
his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
If he had to offer a yearly atonement, like the priests of old,
he would have suffered death thousands of times, for he has been our Priest
from the foundation of the world. But now in these last days, he has appeared
in the likeness of sinful flesh to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Isa.
53:4-6; Heb. 10:17-18).
[Isaiah 53:4-6] "Surely he
hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
[Hebrews 10:17-18] "And
their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. [18] Now where
remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."
As men die just once and face judgment but once, so Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many, to bear the sins of God’s elect. They
are now fully paid for and forever put away.
Unto all them who believe on him and look for him, he will
appear without sin unto eternal glory (Rom. 8:1-4,33-39).
[Romans 8:1-4] "There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3]
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
[Romans 8:33-39] "Who shall
lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we
are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."