Nothing But The Blood

There was story told some years ago about a very wealthy old man who had an elaborate collection of Van Gogh and Monet paintings. His only son shared his father’s interest in the rare paintings. They traveled around the world buying these paintings wherever they could find them.

War came and the son enlisted in the army and was placed in the medical corps. In a severe battle, while carrying a wounded soldier to safety, the son was seriously wounded himself and passed away. The mother had already transitioned, and the news of his son devastated the old father. He grieved in loneliness for months.

One day a knock came at his door and when he responded he found a young man with a package. The young man explained that he was one of the several soldiers that the son had carried to safety. Knowing his interest in paintings he took the time to paint a picture of the son and presented it to the dad.

The painting was not rare but was very precious to the old man because it was a good resemblance of his son. The man was so moved that he took a very valuable painting from the mantle and placed the picture of his son in its place. Hour after hour he sat in his rocker and gazed up at the image of his beloved son.

When the dad died the art collection was put up for sale at auction. Hundreds of collectors came to bid. The auctioneer announced that the will stated that the picture of his son was to be auctioned first. A moan of disappointment could be heard from the crowd. “Let’s get on with the real paintings,” one was heard to say.

The son’s picture was held up and the auctioneer cried, “Who will give $100.00, $50.00, $25.00. There was no response. A kind old gentleman in the back asked, “Will you take $10.00.” “Sold,” said the auctioneer. “Good”, cried several people in the crowd. “Now we can get on with the auction.”

Then the auctioneer announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the auction.” The crowd was puzzled and upset. Then the statement was given. The will declared that the son’s picture was to be sold first and the person who took it would get all the rest. The old man who paid $10.00 for the picture of the son was suddenly amazed at the fact that he now owned all the valuable paintings.

The title for today’s message is: “Nothing But The Blood”

Our Scripture is taken from 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 NASB95

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

When a person accepts the Son of God, everything The Father has is included.

We as believers become heirs of the Father and joint heirs with Christ. The precious blood of Jesus has made it all possible.

You know there’s an old song that we sing and these are the words:

“What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

No other fount I know

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

Later, this morning we are going to share in the Lord's Supper or communion as many call it.

We are going to celebrate and remember what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Our scripture this morning outlines what we are to do during the Lord's Supper. It gives us three ways to look during our celebration this morning.

As we prepare ourselves for communion, let's take a look at three things.

First, we need to …

Look Back…

Let’s look again at verse 1 Corinthians 11:26 again.

1 Corinthians 11:26 NASB95

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

You see,

Every time we have the Lord's Supper, we are announcing what Jesus did for you and I, on the cross.

The blood that was shed there for the redemption of our sins. We will always, need to look back and remember this.

Take a look at Romans 5:6-9

Romans 5:6–9 NASB95

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

We need to remember the words this also found in Hebrews 9:22 .

Hebrews 9:22 NASB95

22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

We need to look back and realize that

Jesus had to shed his blood and die on that old rugged cross for the forgiveness of our sin.

Our scripture not only tells us to look back, it also tells us to, look within…

Look Back…

Look Within…

Turn back with me to 1 Corinthians 11 and look at verse 28 again.

1 Corinthians 11:28 NASB95

28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

As you prepare to receive communion, look within yourself.

Only you and God truly know who you are within yourself. Paul writes that we are to examine ourselves. What do you see when you look in the mirror?

What are you doing with your life? How are you living? Are you striving for holiness or striving to hide who you truly are? Have you and do you put Jesus first in your life? Are you totally committed to Christ?

Do you have unconfessed sin in your life. Sin that you need to confess to God.

Turn to 1 John 1:8-10, let’s take a moment to read what it is telling us this morning: 1 John 1:8-10

1 John 1:8–10 NASB95

8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous 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.

We must examine ourselves and depend on God to forgive our sins but we must not partake of this communion with unconfessed sin in our life.

Look at what verse 27 tells us: 1 Corinthians 11:27

1 Corinthians 11:27 NASB95

27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

We need to Look within ourselves this morning.

Lastly, Paul tells us that we should:

Look Back…

Look Within…

Look Ahead

1 Corinthians 11:26 NASB95

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Look at verse 26 again.

We are looking forward to the time when Jesus comes again.

We should be expectantly waiting for the return of our savior. Overjoyed with the anticipation of our Lord's return. This communion should make us look forward to that return and to the marriage feast of the Lamb that we will share in with the return of Jesus.

Let’s look at Revelation19:6-9

Revelation 19:6–9 NASB95

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

As we share this Communion, look forward to the return of our Lord and to that great feast we will have then. We will share in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with Jesus Christ.

This communion should make us look forward to that glorious feast. I urge you this morning, as we prepare for Communion,

Look back .... remember what Jesus did for you.

To look inward .... and get yourself right with God.

To look forward .... to the return of the Son of God, the man we remember and celebrate today.

So, as the music plays, let us prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate all that our Father has given us. This is a time of self-examination. A time to remember that it’s “Nothing But The Blood” that saved us from o