The Blood Still Works

INTRO: Man has tried since the fall in the garden to create or come up with his own form of forgiveness, redemption fulfillment. In our searching we have turned to everything. Birds in the air. Things in the sea, man has even created images to worship. All in an attempt to find answers to our need for relationship, our need to fill the emptiness many feel inside.

Despair has gripped many, the mood of the nation is one of scuttle hope, mixed with anxious anxiety. But I come this morning to remind you that in the midst of it all, be not discouraged, Paul said it like this:

Who against hope believed in hope; (Romans 4:18).

Paul is saying hope alone is nothing unless anchored in faith. Without faith it’s just a probability, but hope anchored in faith, is “an assured confidence, grounded on the divine promise. It’s the difference between hope based on human nature and hope that is supernatural. I said all that to simply say, Jesus is our reason for hope! That the blood of Jesus Christ settled it all!

The Blood Still Works!

SCRIP: Exodus 12:7, 13                                                                                  And they shall take the blood and strike in on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:7, 13.

Israel prayed constantly for deliverance from Egypt. They were ordered to kill a lamb to take the blood of the lamb and use it to paint the exterior door posts of their homes.

Those without the blood applied over their doorposts suffered the death of their firstborn, whether they were Israelites or not.

How many of you here today know that when the Lord sets you free from bondage, it’s the dawning of a new day and the beginning of a new life?

Whenever you read or hear the words “redeem” or “redemption” in the New Testament, it’s always pointing to the bloody cross of Calvary, the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.

The Blood Still Works!

Remitted sins – (Mat 26:28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. To remit sins is to remove them. Like John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” He took them away when he shed his blood for them.

Purchased the church – (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.

Propitiates – (Rom 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. To propitiate means to appease. Each one of us, before we were saved, was under the wrath of God (Jn 3:36). When we put our faith in the shed blood of Jesus, the wrath of God was appeased and we were saved from his wrath (Rom 5:9).

Justifies – (Rom 5:9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. To be justified by Jesus’ blood means essentially that we have already been tried for our sins and found not guilty since he bore them in his own body on the tree and paid for them totally (2 Pet 2:24).

Redeems – (Eph 1:7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. As sinners, we were children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10). By shedding his blood, Jesus bought us back from the devil and made us God’s children (Jn 1:12).

Makes nigh – (Eph 2:13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Before we were saved, we were separated from the covenant of promise that God had made withIsrael and we had no hope in the world and we were without God. When we were saved, the blood of Christ brought us into the covenant of promise and drew us near to the God whom we were without, giving us hope for the first time in our lives (Rom 8:24).

Makes peace – (Col 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. We were without peace as wicked sinners (Is 48:22). But after Jesus shed his blood and we were saved, we were at peace with God, having been reconciled to him by Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1; 2 Cor 5:18).

Purges – (Heb 9:14) 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? Our consciences before we were saved were evil (Heb 10:22), having been defiled (Tit 1:15) and seared by sin (1 Tim 4:2).

But after each of us received Jesus, we could plead the blood and God would apply it to our conscience to purge it from those old sins and clean it up, thereby giving us a good conscience (1 Pet 3:16). Now, anytime you are troubled by those old sinful works, just plead the blood and ask God to purge your conscience to keep it clean so that you may serve him.

Sanctifies – (Heb 13:12) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. To sanctify means to clean a person up and to set him apart that he may be used by God. That happens to you because of the blood of Jesus. How else could a former murderer of Christians been used by God to write much of the New Testament and start churches all through Asia Minor, leading men and women to Jesus through his preaching.

Cleanses – (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. Each time you sin, your body and your spirit are made filthy [your soul is not affected because of the forgiveness of Jesus and the new birth by the Spirit]. Therefore, you have to have a way to cleanse your flesh and your spirit from this filthiness (2 Cor 7:1). The blood of Jesus Christ is what God has given us to take care of that very problem.

Washes – (Rev 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. God promised in Is 1:18 that “though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.” The thing that makes them white, that washes them, is the blood of Jesus.

In 1 Cor. 5:7 the Apostle Paul declared that Christ who is our passover was sacrificed for us. Peter also declared in 1 Peter 1:18–20 that 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;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

In John 3:14-17 Jesus said, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

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

1 Timothy 2:5-6 says For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Hebrews 9:28 says 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.

Revelation 5:9 says And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

1 Peter 2:24 says Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

However, to be effective

However, to be effective, the blood had to be applied to the doorposts; for God promised, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Ex. 12:13).

It isn’t sufficient simply to know that Christ was sacrificed for the sins of the world. We must appropriate that sacrifice for ourselves and be able to say with with Mary that “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” Luke 1:46

Somebody say, THE BLOOD STILL WORKS!

WHEN SOMETHING IS PROVIDED IT IS PREPARED BEFOREHAND TO DEAL WITH A NEED!

For Israel the blood represented God''s provision.

But the Lord Provided Provision for them in the wilderness with manna and quail from heaven.

Yes they ate in haste and carried a minimum of supplies with them. But they counted on the power of God to provide for them.

Just as Israel carried with them what they could, we today should do the same. Because the Lord is Jehovah Jireh - The Lord my Provider - He has already Provided for our needs!

HOW MANY HERE TODAY KNOW THAT THE LORD WILL PROVIDE?

The blood of Christ does not promise us prosperity, but it does give us God's promise of provision FOR our daily bread.

Jesus reminded those who doubted God''s provisional powers to consider the birds of the air, how they are fed by God constantly.

The song writer added, His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.

The Blood WAS Good In THE Time of Trouble

For Israel the blood over the door posts was more than simple lamb's blood over a doorway. The blood meant THAT when trouble came they would be under the protection of God himself.

PSALMS 46:1 SAYS OUR God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 145:18 SAYS The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

SOMEBODY HOLLER "PROTECTION"

BECAUSE : No weapon formed against me shall prosper

I Know It Was The Blood

Conclusion:                                                                                                   Finally, brothers and sisters, every chance we get we must testify to the world that we ourselves have been transformed from what we used to be; it was nothing but the blood. There is transforming power in the blood of Christ. Only the blood can transform a nobody into a somebody!

Matthew: transform a tax collector into a Missionary!

Peter: only the blood can take a fisherman and make him a fisher of men!

Paul:  only the blood can take a persecutor of the church and transform him into a Apostle of the kingdom of God!

Ask the woman and the well and she will tell you that only the blood can transform a life so much that should would run through the streets saying "come see man who told me all I've ever done!"

The power of the blood transforms our despair into a never dying hope. That's why the song writer declared, "My hope Is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

The song write asked the question, "What can wash away my sins?" He answered "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, nothing but the blood of Jesus!

When you've been washed in the blood, you sing with new meaning,

I know it was the blood. I know it was the blood that saved me. I know it was the blood that took my despair and transformed it into hope! I know it was the blood that took my worries and transformed it into confidence!

One day when I was lost, he died upon a cross! I know it was the blood that saved me!

He died to give me a chance to turn my life around! He died to give me a chance to get a clean start! But early Sunday morning arose, to guarantee my salvation!