Many of you have seen the movie -- The Passion of Christ!
The reactions to what has been seen have been varied!
Some people have made a new commitment to Faith in Christ.
Some have a new & deeper appreciation for what Christ suffered & endured in our behalf.
Not everyone -- however -- has had a positive reaction to the movie.
I have heard my share of criticism concerning the film -- its effects -- its portrayal.
One of the common complaints -- about the movie -- is the fact that it contains so much violence -- so much blood!
That is why it has been given an R - rating!
Having seen the movie for myself -- I do not believe I will ever read the Biblical accounts of the arrest -- the mock trial -- the treatment of Jesus -- & the Crucifixion -- in the same way as I have in the past!
As for me -- I have a new & deeper appreciation -- of what it cost the Son of God to secure -- to purchase my salvation!
Yes -- there were bloody scenes -- but as I read the Bible -- I am so reminded that “by His strips” -- we are healed!
There is a verse found in the short NT letter of 1 John -- that summarizes the main message of the entire Bible!
I invite you to turn with me to 1 John -- (Read 1 John 1:4-10).
The main message of the Bible is found in the little expression from vs. 7 -- that states: the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin
That -- my friends -- is the basic message of the Bible.
From Genesis to Revelation -- the Bible repeats this important message ...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
With illustration after illustration -- type after type -- & declaration after declaration -- throughout the Bible -- the HS repeats this truth time after time -- ... the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin -- is the message of the OT Law -- which talks about the Day of Atonement.
In that difficult book of Leviticus there is a wonderful verse which reads: “It is the blood -- representing life -- that brings you atonement.”
It’s another way of saying...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The same truth is expressed by the prophets -- as seen in Isaiah 53 -- that great chapter which describes the crucifixion of Christ 700 years before it happened.
The very heart of Isaiah 53 tells us that -- “All we like sheep have gone astray; -- we have turned every one to his own way; -- & the Lord has laid on him the sins (the iniquity) of us all.”
In essence it is saying ...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
In the Psalms -- chapter 22 is a prophecy & description of the sufferings of Christ -- where we find the words of Jesus quoted from the Cross -- “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Here again you have by implication the same message -- ...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I say it to you again -- it is the main message of the Bible!
It is the message of the OT; -- It is the message of the NT.
In the Gospel account -- when John the Baptist said: -- “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” -- he was saying: ...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The same thing that is being said in the OT law -- & in the prophets -- & in the psalms -- is being repeated again in the gospels.
In the writings of the Apostle Paul -- we find in his letter to the church at Rome -- in Romans 5:8 -- the words -- “But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners -- Christ died for us.”
Here again the emphases is on the fact that...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Even in the Book of Revelation -- this truth is clearly stated in the very first chapter -- vs. 5 -- “Unto him that loved us -- & washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
Since the blood of Christ is the main message of the Bible -- it is no wonder that Satan has made such an attack upon the Blood of Christ!
It is not difficult to understand why Satan has gotten some churches to take all references to the Blood -- out of their hymn books & songs.
And it is not difficult to understand why some liberal modern preachers never preach on the Blood of JESUS CHRIST!!
My friends -- w/o the Blood -- there is no salvation!
The Bible plainly says in Heb. 9:22 -- “w/o the shedding of blood there is no remission” -- no forgiveness of sins.
Throughout the Bible -- the HS puts emphasis on the Blood of JESUS CHRIST.
The Blood of JESUS CHRIST -- like a sacred thread -- runs through out the Bible -- from Genesis to Revelation.
It is the indispensable message we must hear over & over again!
In the Passion of Christ -- we see all this precious Blood left on the ground -- & dripping from the Cross -- but never fear -- my dear friends -- not a single drop of that Blood -- so precious in securing our salvation -- has been wasted!
I heard an old preacher say years ago -- “God, Himself, scooped up every drop of that Blood; -- & is holding it in Heaven, making it available to your needs & my needs; -- there is plenty for all of us; -- & there is still wonderful working power in the Blood of JESUS CHRIST!”
Many songs have been written trying to depict the power of the Blood!
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood -- pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory to win?
There wonderful pow’r in the blood!
Be free from the burden of sin? -- Yes!
Get the victory over evil? -- Yes!
How? -- Through the blood of JESUS CHRIST -- for ...the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin!
Let me share with you this morning a few thoughts about the blood.
1. The Blood of JESUS CHRIST -- It is Innocent Blood!
The blood of JESUS CHRIST is indeed innocent blood.
Judas said: -- “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”
JESUS CHRIST was absolutely innocent!
He was not guilty of any sin in deed -- thought -- or attitude!
Judas knew & understood -- the holiness & righteousness of Jesus!
Judas kept company with Jesus during some 3 or more years -- & he realized that there was absolutely no flaw in Jesus’ character -- & no evil in His behavior!
JESUS CHRIST was the sinless Son of God!
He never uttered a word He had to retreat -- & never did anything for which He had to apologize!
He prayed from the cross -- “Father, forgive them; -- for they know not what they do.”
But Jesus never one time had to pray - “Father, forgive me” -- because JESUS CHRIST never did anything for which He needed to be forgiven!
The Bible says -- that you & I can be reconciled to God -- “for God made Christ -- who never sinned -- to be the sin offering for our sin -- so that we could be made right with God through Christ!”
Even Pilate’s wife referred to JESUS CHRIST as an innocent man -- by saying to her husband -- “Leave that innocent man alone -- because I had a terrible nightmare about him last night.”
Judas was so absolutely right -- when he called it innocent blood!
Why do I emphasize the fact that the blood of JESUS CHRIST was innocent blood?
The answer is simple: - If JESUS CHRIST was not the sinless - innocent Son of God - then we do not have a sinless substitute to die in our place
And if we do not have a sinless substitute -- then we have no Savior -- no hope & no Heaven!
Illus: -- An old story is told about a man who was walking along one day -- & suddenly fell into a deep hole! -- Maybe it was an old abandoned mine shaft of some kind!
He began yelling for help. -- Someone came along -- & in an effort to help -- jumped into the hole. -- Now there were two men in the hole needing help to be delivered.
A third man comes along -- but instead of jumping into the hole -- he remains on higher ground -- secures a rope to lower into the hole in order to lift the others out of the hole.
Had he also jumped into the hole, he would not have been able to help!
JESUS CHRIST -- remained free & innocent of all sin -- in order to be able to lift us out of the deep miry clay of sin & shame -- & set us on a solid Rock!
Since JESUS CHRIST had no sin of His own -- God took all of our sins -- & placed them on His one & only Son -- JESUS CHRIST.
Because JESUS CHRIST was innocent of any & all sin -- He is able to become our Deliverer -- our Savior!
That is not just preacher talk; -- that is the very language of the Scripture! -- What a wonderful, wonderful truth!
2. The Blood of JESUS CHRIST -- It is Invaluable Blood!
There is no way under Heaven to describe the value of the blood of JESUS CHRIST.
1 Peter says -- “the ransom he paid (for you) was not mere gold or silver. -- He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ -- the sinless spotless Lamb of God.”
The precious blood of Christ -- as a lamb w/o blemish & w/o spot -- was shed for you & I.
Nothing in the entire world is more valuable than the blood of Christ!
Value is determined by several things -- one of which is rarity!
Certain coins are extremely valuable because they are so rare.
The blood of Christ is the only blood of its kind in the world!
The shedding of no other person’s blood could bring us salvation!
It took the shedding of the blood of Christ -- & His alone!
Our salvation is through His blood. -- No other blood will do!
The blood is also valuably because of its power!
O my friends -- there is wonderful working power in the blood of JESUS CHRIST!
The blood has power to forgive us of our sins.
The blood has power to cleanse us from all sin.
The blood has power to reconcile us to God.
The blood has power to grant us peace with God.
The blood has power to give us spiritual victory.
The value of the blood of JESUS CHRIST is also valuable in its durability! -- That is in how long it will last! -
How long will it last? -- The blood of Christ has no limit!
The blood of Christ is just as effective today as it was the day it was shed on the cross! -- And the blood of JESUS CHRIST will never lose its power!
It will never lose its Power!
O, the invaluable blood of Christ! -- It has power for forgiveness -- power for redemption -- power to cleanse -- power to give us peace with God -- power to keep us victorious -- & it will never lose its power!
The song writer was so correct when he wrote: --
It will never lose its pow’r.
It will never lose its pow’r.
The blood that cleanses from all sin
Will never lose its pow’r.
3. The Blood of JESUS CHRIST -- It is Indispensable Blood!
The Bible says that w/o the shedding of blood -- there is no remission -- no forgiveness of sins.
There is no forgiveness -- no justification -- no salvation apart from the blood of Christ! -- It is Indispensable Blood!
If you trust anything other than JESUS CHRIST -- & His shed blood on the cross -- then according to the Bible -- you are not saved!
If you do not believe on JESUS CHRIST -- if you do not trust Him -- depending on Him -- then the Bible says you do not have eternal life; -- rather the wrath of God abides upon you!
The Bible says: - “All who believe in God’s Son has eternal life. -- Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life -- but the wrath of God remains upon them.” -- It is Indispensable Blood!
I belong to the church -- & have been a member of the church since I was 16 years of age.
But I do not trust my church membership to get me to Heaven!
I trust JESUS CHRIST -- & Him alone!
The Bible says -- “Believe on the Lord JESUS CHRIST -- & you shall be saved!
I have been baptized! -- As a matter of fact, I was baptized as a teen age lad -- in a running river outdoors -- in total immersion!
But I am not trusting in JESUS CHRIST plus my baptism to get me to Heaven!
I trust JESUS CHRIST -- & Him alone! -- It is Indispensable Blood!
The shed blood of Christ is not an additive -- which we put with our church membership -- our baptism -- our good works -- or anything else.
It is Christ’s death & shed blood alone that saves us.
To add anything to it is to say in essence that the blood of JESUS CHRIST is not enough; -- it is insufficient!
My friends -- it is the blood of JESUS CHRIST that cleanses us from all sin!
We cannot trust our morality -- our good works -- our reformation -- or anything else! -- We must trust Christ & Him alone!
W/o the shedding of blood -- there is no remission -- no forgiveness of sins. -- It is Indispensable Blood!
I must needs go Home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this.
I shall ne’er get sight -- of the gates of light
If the way of the cross I miss.
Conclusion:
My dear friends -- the way of the Cross does lead Home -- & it is the only thing that leads to our Eternal Home!
Illus: -- In his book -- The Great Boer War -- Sir Arthur C. Doyle recounts the story of a small detachment of British troops -- who were surprised by an overwhelming enemy force.
The British fell back under heavy fire.
Their wounded lay in a perilous position where they faced certain death
One of them -- a corporal -- later told that they all realized they had to come immediately under the protection of a Red Cross flag -- if they wanted to survive.
All they had was a piece of white cloth -- but no red paint.
So they used the blood from their wounds -- to make a large cross on that white cloth.
Their attackers respected that grim flag as it was held high overhead -- & the wounded British were brought to safety.
My friends -- the only way we are going to be safe -- & to be saved from our sins -- to find freedom -- to have spiritual victory -- is to hold high the blood stained banner of JESUS CHRIST -- for the blood of JESUS CHRIST -- God’s Son -- cleanses us from all sin!
Yes -- the mock trial & the crucifixion of JESUS CHRIST was a bloody scene!
But not one drop of that blood has been lost!
It is available to you & me today -- to wash away our sins & make us clean!
It is available to you & me today -- to give us victory in the battles & trials & the tribulations of life!
It is innocent blood -- it is invaluable blood -- it is indispensable blood -- & it is available to you & I today -- for whatever our need may be!
Won’t you trust Him today -- for the blood of JESUS CHRIST cleanses from all sin!