Hebrews 9:1-15

THANK GOD FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Intro: Medical doctor and theologian, M.R. DeHaan said, “The Bible is a book of blood … wholly distinct from all other books for just one reason, namely, that it contains blood circulating through every page and in every verse. From Genesis to Revelation we see the stream of blood.”  Dr. DeHaan was absolutely right; the Bible is a bloody book!  From the first verse of the Bible to the very end, there is a trail of blood that snakes its way through the pages, revealing a portrait of the redemption that is available to all who will come to God by faith.

      The passage we have read today speaks of the blood.  Verses 1-11 focus on the Old Testament sacrificial system.  They speak of a time when millions of gallons of blood were shed to cover the sins of the people.  Yet, sin was only covered over year by year.  All those millions of gallons of animal blood never saved a single soul, verse 9.  What the blood of bulls, goats and lambs could not do, the blood of Jesus accomplished!  These verses give us some insights into what the blood of Jesus does for all those who trust Him by faith.  Let me share with you some insights that are revealed in these verses.  Insights that cause me to say, Thank God for the Blood Of Jesus!

 

  I.  V. 12         THE PURCHASE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

A.  A Precious Purchase - The reason the Old Testament sacrifices could not save was due to the character of the blood that was shed.  The blood being shed was animal blood.  However, sin had been introduced into the world by man, Rom. 5:12.  Therefore, salvation was dependent on the sacrifice of an innocent man.  Jesus Christ fit the bill.  When Jesus went to Calvary as the Lamb of God, the blood He shed was pure, precious sinless blood, 1 Pet. 1:18-19.  His blood was of the character that could satisfy the just demands of a holy God, Isa. 53:11.

B.  A Personal Purchase - This verse tells us that it was “his own blood”.  The depth of this statement has not, nor ever will be, plumbed by human minds.  To understand this thought demands that we understand how God Himself could be born in human flesh and how He could submit to death on a cross for sinners.  Yet, this is exactly what He did for every one of us, Phil. 2:5-11.  This is a truth that is glorious beyond compare!  That He would love you and me so much that He would willingly endure the agonies of the cross, is a truth beyond comprehension, (Ill. The pain of the cross - Isa. 53:4-6.)  It is amazing, but it is true, Rom. 5:8.

C.  A Permanent Purchase - The last phrase of this verse is pregnant with meaning.  The words “having obtained” refer to a “one time for all time action.”  The word “eternal” means “abiding, constant, unending, eternal.”  And, the word “redemption” means “to release after the payment of a ransom price, after which the guilty party is forever delivered from all guilt and punishment.” When all these truths are coupled together, we are left with the conclusion that the salvation Jesus provides, and the redemption the saints enjoy is an eternal redemption.  This is made even clearer by the following verses of Scripture: Heb. 9:25-28; Heb. 10:10-14; 1 Pet. 1:5; John 10:28; John 6:37-40! 

            The fact of the matter is this: if you are saved, you are saved forever!  Some might ask: How is this possible?  The answer lies in the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice to that of the Old Testament.  The Old Testament sacrifices merely covered sin.  The sacrificial offering of Christ’s blood on Calvary removed sin forever, John 1:29!  If you are saved, Christ’s death on the cross forever settled you sin problem, Romans 6!

 

 II.  V. 13-14        THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

A.  Power To Cleanse – The word “purge” means “to cleanse and free from filth.”  It refers to the cleansing of the lepers, or to a ceremonial cleansing.  The blood of the Old Testament sacrificial system could never completely cleanse the stains of sin away.  However, the blood of Jesus cleanses the sinner completely!  (Ill. Rev. 1:5; 1 John 1:7.)  That is why the writers of the New Testament are able to say that we have been “justified”.  That is, we have been declared right with God, 1 Cor. 6:9-11!

 

(Ill.  The Blood As a Cleansing Agent - William Cooper’s hymn speaks of “a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins, where sinners, plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.” The apostle John said that the blood of Jesus Christ “cleanses from all sin.” The multitude in Revelation 7 had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

      But how is blood a cleaning agent? To us, blood is a soiling or staining agent, something we try to scrub off, not scrub with.

      Dr. Henry Brand explained it this way in Christianity Today:

      “All that we have learned about physiology in recent years confirms the accuracy of the still-jarring juxtaposition of blood and cleansing.…

      I suggest a simple experiment if you truly wish to grasp the function of blood as a cleansing agent. Find a blood pressure kit and wrap the cuff around your upper arm. When it is in position, have a friend pump it up to about 200 mm. of mercury, a sufficient pressure to stop the flow of blood in your arm. Initially your arm will feel an uncomfortable tightness beneath the cuff. Now comes the revealing part of the experiment: perform any easy task with your cuffed arm. Merely flex your finger and make a fist about ten times in succession, or cut paper with scissors, or drive a nail into wood with a hammer.

      The first few movements will seem quite normal as the muscles obediently contract and relax. Then you will feel a slight weakness. Almost without warning a hot flash of pain will strike, after maybe ten movements. Your muscles will cramp. If you force yourself to continue this simple task, you will likely cry out in absolute agony. Finally, you cannot force yourself to continue; the pain overwhelms you.

      When your release the tourniquet and air escapes from the cuff, blood will rush into your aching arm and a wonderful sense of relief will soothe your muscles.… Physiologically, you have just experienced the cleansing of the blood.

      While the blood supply to your arm was shut off, you forced your muscles to keep working. As they converted oxygen into energy, they produced certain waste products (metabolites) that are normally flushed away instantly in the bloodstream. Due to the constricted blood flow, however, these metabolites accumulated in your cells. They were not “cleansed” by the swirling stream of blood, and therefore in a few minutes you felt the agony of retained toxins.”

      But, that is the power of the blood to cleanse in a physical sense.  On a spiritual level, the blood of Jesus has the power to take the blackest heart and wash it whiter than snow, Isa. 1:18; 1 John 1:7!)

 

(Ill. Thank God, there is a “Fountain Filled With Blood!”

 

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

 

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

 

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power

Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

 

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.

 

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

 

B.  Power To Change – When the blood of Jesus is applied, it “purges the conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”  The “conscience” is that part of you that has the power to choose between right and wrong.  The idea here is that when you are saved, you experience a change of heart that results in a change of lifestyle.  The idea is that of a new life.  The Old Testament sacrifices could never produce such a change, but the blood of Jesus brings with it that awesome power to forever change those exposed to it!  (Ill. 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10)

            After a person left the Tabernacle or Temple, he was exactly the same person he had been before the sacrifice.  However, when a person meets Jesus Christ and His shed blood, the change in that person is dramatic, and glorious!  The sinner is literally made a new creature and is indwelt by God Himself, 2 Pet. 1:4.  This results in a change of attitude toward sin, a change of affection for sin and a change of activity in sin.  If a person ever experiences the blood of Jesus, that person is forever changed!

 

      (Ill. When evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791) was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have something more to give you." The surprised robber paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'" The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.

            Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before! "I owe it all to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend," Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!")

 

C.  Power To Claim - The thought that is implied in these verses is that the sinner is brought to God through the work of the blood of Jesus!  This is the idea of Eph. 2:11-17.  The blood of Jesus does far more than just wash our sins away.  It also purchases us out of sin and makes us the very possessions of God, 1 Cor. 6:19-20.  If we are saved, God owns us and that is why He can make any demands He chooses of us.  We are His and we are to obey His will without questions.  Of course, the redeemed soul delights in doing the Lord’s will, John 14:15.

 

(Ill. The old song writer said, “There is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb.”  Andre Crouch said, “The blood that Jesus shed for me; way back on Calvary; the blood that gives me strength from day to day; it will never lose its power.”  Thank God, there is power in the blood!  No matter what you give Jesus, He will wash it in His blood and make it over again!)

 

III.  V. 15          THE PROMISE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS          

A.  The Promise Of Freedom - This verse speaks of redemption.  This redemption through the blood of Jesus buys us back from the power of sin, releases us from sin’s bondage and frees us to live for God.  When a sinner places his faith in the blood of Jesus for salvation, that sinner is given a brand new life and a fresh start.  That is why the Bible refers to it as a new birth, John 3:3; 7; 1 Pet. 1:23.  The redeemed sinner is reckoned dead with Christ at Calvary and alive in Him by virtue of His resurrection from the dead, Gal. 2:20.  The old life and all of its failures and wretchedness is gone forever, (Ill. Psa. 103:12; Isa. 43:25; Isa. 38:17; Jer. 50:20; Micah 7:19; 1 John 1:7), and a new life is given to the redeemed child of God.  Thank God, the past is forever gone!

 

(Ill. Robert Bruce of Scotland was leading his men in a battle to gain independence from England. Near the end of the conflict, the English wanted to capture the Bruce to keep him from assuming his position as next in line for the Scottish crown. So they put his own bloodhounds on his trail. When they got close, Bruce could hear them baying loudly. His attendant said, “We are done for. They are on your trail, and they will reveal your hiding place.” Bruce replied, “It’s all right.” Then he headed for a stream that flowed through the forest. He plunged in and waded upstream a short distance. When he came out on the other bank, he was in the depths of the forest. Within minutes, the hounds, tracing their master’s steps, came to the bank. But they went no farther. The English soldiers urged them on, but the trail was broken. The stream had carried the scent away. A short time later, the crown of Scotland rested on the head of Robert Bruce.

      The memory of our sins, prodded on by Satan, can be like those baying dogs. But a stream flows, red with the blood of God’s own Son. By grace through faith we are safe. No sin-hound can touch us. The trail is broken by the precious blood of Christ.  Our past may rise up to hunt and to haunt us, but it cannot overtake us!  Sin has broken the trail and we are free from its demands and from its power!)

 

B.  The Promise Of A Future - The blood of Jesus also promises us a future in Heaven.  When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we became joint heirs with Him of all that God has to offer, Rom. 8:17, 1 Pet. 1:3-4.  As a result, we have the assurance that we will be with Him in Heaven when we leave this world, John 14:1-3.  Yes, Heaven and all it offers belong only to those washed in the blood of the Lamb!  There is no other way to enter that city, but through the precious blood of Jesus!

 

Conc: Yes, the Bible is a bloody book!  Our faith is a bloody faith.  Many in our modern world are turned off by the preaching of the blood of Jesus, 1 Cor. 1:18.  The song writer got it exactly right when he penned these words years ago.  He wrote: “Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?  Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

      That, my friends, is a question that each of us must answer for ourselves!  Are you really saved?  If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would go to Heaven?  Jesus died to set you free from your sins!  If you will trust Him by faith, He will save you and give you eternal life.  Do you have the evidence of the new birth?  Do you remember the moment you passed from death unto life?  Are you sure that you are saved today?

      Has the shed blood of Jesus been applied to your life? Another song writer by the name of Robert Lowery put it this way:

 

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

 

O precious is the flow,

That makes me white as snow.

No other fount I know;

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

This is all my hope and peace;

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my righteousness;

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!