The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13 ESV)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13 ESV)
As a child our family lived near a slaughter house. For the most part it was unnoticeable but in the hot summer months together with the Santa Ana winds we often got the brunt of the smell that drifted our way. I knew one man who worked there who shared an interesting fact about people who worked in slaughterhouses: People who work with the blood of animals have very clean hands - almost bleached. He would then show us his hands and how clean they would look. The blood was a natural cleansing agent.
This passage of scripture speaks of the means for our coming closer to God - it is by the shed blood of Christ. People often wonder - "Why is the blood so important? Why did Christ have to die and shed His blood? What difference does it make in my life?" Well, I want to answer that today by giving you 20 Purposes Of The Blood Of Christ." (This list is taken from Frank Viola's Book - "Jesus Now."
As a child our family lived near a slaughter house. For the most part it was unnoticeable but in the hot summer months together with the Santa Ana winds we often got the brunt of the smell that drifted our way. I knew one man who worked there who shared an interesting fact about people who worked in slaughterhouses: People who work with the blood of animals have very clean hands - almost bleached. He would then show us his hands and how clean they would look. The blood was a natural cleansing agent.
This passage of scripture speaks of the means for our coming closer to God - it is by the shed blood of Christ. People often wonder - "Why is the blood so important? Why did Christ have to die and shed His blood? What difference does it make in my life?" Well, I want to answer that today by giving you 20 Purposes Of The Blood Of Christ." (This list is taken from Frank Viola's Book - "Jesus Now."
1. It remits sins
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:27, 28 ESV)
2. It gives life to those who consume it
2. It gives life to those who consume it
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (John 6:53 ESV)
3. It causes us to dwell in Christ and He in us
3. It causes us to dwell in Christ and He in us
Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:56 ESV)
4. It is the means by which Jesus purchased the church
4. It is the means by which Jesus purchased the church
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28 ESV)
5. It is the means by which Jesus becomes our atonement through faith
5. It is the means by which Jesus becomes our atonement through faith
...God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:25 ESV)
6. It justifies us and saves us from wrath
6. It justifies us and saves us from wrath
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9 ESV)
7. It redeems us
7. It redeems us
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)
Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18, 19 ESV)
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, (Revelation 5:9 ESV)
8. It brings those who were far away from God near to Him
Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18, 19 ESV)
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, (Revelation 5:9 ESV)
8. It brings those who were far away from God near to Him
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13 ESV)
9. It grants us the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14).
9. It grants us the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14).
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13, 14 ESV)
10. It brings peace and reconciliation to God
10. It brings peace and reconciliation to God
And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:20 ESV)
11. It has obtained eternal redemption for us
11. It has obtained eternal redemption for us
He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12 ESV)
12. It cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God
12. It cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14 ESV)
13. It is the means by which we enter the most holy place with boldness
13. It is the means by which we enter the most holy place with boldness
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19 ESV)
14. It speaks a better word than the blood of Abel
14. It speaks a better word than the blood of Abel
And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24 ESV)
15. It sanctifies us
15. It sanctifies us
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. (Hebrews 13:12 ESV)
16. It equips us for every good work
16. It equips us for every good work
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20, 21 ESV)
17. It cleanses us from all sin
17. It cleanses us from all sin
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 ESV)
18. It bears witness in the earth along with the Spirit and the water
18. It bears witness in the earth along with the Spirit and the water
This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. (1 John 5:6-8 ESV)
19. It is the means by which Jesus washes and frees us
19. It is the means by which Jesus washes and frees us
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (Revelation 1:5 ESV)
I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14 ESV)
20. It is the means by which we overcome the accuser of the brethren
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:11) I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14 ESV)
20. It is the means by which we overcome the accuser of the brethren
I'm so thankful today for the sacrifice that Christ made for me by the shedding of His blood by which brings me freedom and salvation from my sins.
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