THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Circumstances make things precious.
      1. The hungry man thinks food is precious.
      2. When one is dying in the desert, he values water above all
         else.
      3. Poverty makes wealth precious.
      4. A person cannot truly appreciate the value of a thing until 
         he realizes and encounters the need for it.
   B. People sometimes use the word "precious" very loosely;
      however, in the word of God the word "precious" is used with
      great care.
      1. Very few things are labeled "precious" in the Scriptures.
      2. The blood of Christ is one of them.

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD IS SEEN IN BOTH TESTAMENTS.
   A. The first recorded sacrifice involved blood. Gen. 4:3-5; Heb.  
      11:4
      1. Noah and his family offered a blood sacrifice. Gen. 8:20
      2. The Law of Moses was sealed with blood. Heb. 9:18
      3. The high priest went once a year into the most holy place
         with blood. Heb. 9:7
      4. Man has never been permitted to eat blood. Lev. 17:11-12;
         Acts 15:29
      5. All the sacrifices of the O.T. looked forward to the one    
         great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Heb. 9:23-26
   B. The New Testament begins with the story of God's gift to man.
      1. The angels announce the birth of Christ. Luke 2:8-14
      2. The wise men from the East came to Bethlehem and
         worshiped the young child. Matt. 2:11
      3. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14
      4. When He began His ministry, the idea of a blood sacrifice
         began to be portrayed. John 1:29
      5. Jesus told Nicodemus that as Moses lifted up the serpent in
         the wilderness, He would be "lifted up." John 3:14-15
      6. At the mount of transfiguration Moses and Elijah talked with
         Jesus regarding His decease at Jerusalem. Luke 9:28-31
      7. Jesus made many predictions about being "lifted up" which
         referred to His death on the cross. John 12:31-33; Matt.
         20:17-19
      8. At the last Passover feast with His disciples, when He
         instituted His Supper, He spoke of the blood of the New
         Testament. Matt. 26:26-28
      9. The whole history and meaning of blood sacrifices centers on
         the cross of calvary.

II. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS INDEED A PRECIOUS GIFT TO MANKIND.
   A. The blood of Christ brings redemption. 1 Pet. 1:17-19; Eph.
      1:7
      1. The word "redeem" is a business term meaning, "to buy
         back."
      2. In the beginning, man walked and talked with God.
         a. But, as all men have done, he sold his soul into the
            slavery of sin and Satan. Rom. 6:16; John 8:34 
      3. God desired to buy human beings back from the clutch of
         Satan.
         a. God could have rushed the stronghold of Satan and
            brought men back to himself by force.
         b. Instead, He chose to redeem man through the blood of
            His Son.
      4. Consider this poem from an unknown author:
   
         It was not the bolt of God
         But only a block of wood.
         Yet, the bliss can never be told
         When its meaning is understood.

         It speaks of mountains crossed,
         The rough and clumps made into sod,
         Of the climax of toil and cost,
         That brings man back to God.

   B. The blood of Christ brings justification. Rom. 3:23-26; 5:9
      1. The Greek word for "justification" is a legal term which
         means, "to declare just, righteous, or not guilty."
      2. Divine justice requires the condemnation and punishment of
         all who have sinned.
      3. Since all have sinned and transgressed God's law, all are
         worthy of death.
         a. What could man give to atone for his sins? Micah 6:6-7
         b. God could have placed great, laborious, burdensome
            demands on mankind.
      4. The Law of Moses could not justify. Gal. 2:16
         a. The only thing that meets the demands of God's justice
            is the blood of Christ.
      5. Charles Smith, president of the American Association for the
         Advancement of Atheism, said, "The whole scheme of
         redemption is foolishness to me. Because our parents and
         forefathers disobeyed God, he would not be on good terms
         with us until his son was nailed on a cross. This is not
         reasonable." (Oliphant-Smith Debate, p. 61).
         a. Thus, God's means of justification is unreasonable to
            some, and they reject it.
         b. However, though we may not understand all the facets
            of God's plan, we appreciate it and avail ourselves of   
            it.
   C. The blood of Christ brings reconciliation. Rom. 5:10; Eph.
      2:13-16
      1. The word "reconcile" means "to make friends of enemies."
      2. When one sins, he makes himself an enemy of God. James
         4:4; Col. 1:21
         a. To be God's enemy means certain, absolute destruction.
            Heb. 10:26-27; Rom. 2:5
      3. Only by the blood of Christ can we be reconciled to God and
         escape the wrath to come.
   D. The blood of Christ brings cleansing to the soul.
      1. The word "cleanse" is a household term simply meaning, "to
         clean, to make pure."
      2. God regards sin as a defiled garment (Rev. 3:4), a diseased
         body (Isa. 1:6), filth and vomit (2 Pet. 2:22).
         a. Sin separates and alienates one from God. Isa. 59:1-2;
            Col. 1:21
      3. Again, the cleansing and washing agent is the blood of
         Christ. Rev. 1:5; Heb. 9:14
   E. The blood of Christ purchased the church. Acts 20:28; Eph.
      5:23-25
      1. Those cleansed by the blood are translated into the kingdom
         or church. Col. 1:13-14;
         2. The saved are added to the church. Acts 2:47

III. HOW ARE THE BLESSINGS OF THE BLOOD ACQUIRED? See chart below).
   A. Baptism in a special way is related to the blood of Christ.
      1. Without baptism, no one receives the blessings of Christ's
         blood.
      2. A study of the Scriptures shows that what the blood does,
         baptism does.
   B. For one to continue to receive the cleansing from the blood, he
      must continue to meet the conditions of forgiveness. 1 John    
      1:6-9

Concl.
   A. During the presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), a man by
      the name of George Wilson robbed a federal payroll from a train
      and in the process killed a guard. The court convicted him and
      sentenced him  to be hanged. Because of public sentiment       
      against capital punishment, however, a movement began to secure
      a presidential pardon for Wilson, and eventually Jackson       
      intervened with a pardon. Amazingly, Wilson refused it. 
      1. Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court
         was asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a
         presidential pardon. Chief Justice John Marshall handed
         down the court's decision: "A pardon is a parchment whose
         only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon.
         It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives to 
         it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon. We      
         cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore,  
         George Wilson must die." "Pardon," declared the Supreme     
         Court, "must not only be granted, it must be accepted."     
         George Wilson, as punishment for his crime, was hanged. 
   B. Pardon from sin has come to all men as the result of the blood 
      of Christ.
      1. However, one must accept the pardon on the conditions of
         the One who shed His blood for us.
      2. If we do not comply with the conditions, the blessings of   
         the blood will not be ours.
   C. How about you? Will you not respond by your obedience to the
      Lord?

Chart:
BAPTISM IN GOD'S PLAN

GRACE                                        FAITH

Matt. 26:28. . . Remission of Sins . . . Acts 2:38

1 John 1:7 . . . . . Cleansed. . . . . . Eph. 5:26

Heb. 9:14. . . . Conscience purged . . 1 Pet. 3:21

Rev. 1:5 . . . . . . .Washed . . . . . .Acts 22:16

Acts 20:28 . . . . . Purchased . . . .1 Cor. 12:13

Eph. 1:7 . . Redemption & Forgiveness. . Acts 2:38

BLOOD                                      BAPTISM