Place: Lurgan Baptist 9:7:2000

Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-21

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

Many years ago a lady missionary was led to visit the camps of nomadic Arabs who passed, and camped near the town where she lived. On one of her visits she came to a tent where a woman stood engulfed in deep sorrow and anxiety. Upon entering this tent, she saw lying on a mat on the floor an Arab boy sick, emaciated and dying of tuberculosis. She asked the mother, " may I tell him a story ?" Receiving a nodded assent she knelt down beside that dying lad and began to tell the story of the Lord Jesus and His sufferings and death for sinners. She described how He was beaten, crowned with thorns, led outside the city of Jerusalem, nailed to a cross and left to die. She explained simply how Christ there bore our sins but now lived in Heaven to forgive the sins of those who come to Him.

The lad lay with closed eyes, but toward the end of the story he opened them and began to take some interest. She left, but returned the next day, and told the same story emphasising the fact that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of the lad's sins if he would only come to Jesus. This time the sick boy showed a greater interest and his face seemed to light up toward the end of her time with him. The next day that missionary went to his tent again and thinking that it might be good to introduce something new into her message, she began to tell him of the Birth of Christ and was describing the place where the Lord Jesus was born when that sick boy raised his hand and said, " Not that, not that ! Tell me about the Cross and the Blood and the Forgiveness of my sins." And again the same moving and marvellous story was told.

When the lady missionary returned the next time, she found the Mother of that lad weeping bitterly, and there was no boy on the mat inside her tent. She asked the Mother how he had died. The Mother, when she saw he was dying, had called the Mohammedan priest who came with his copy of the Koran and began to read aloud to the dying lad. Then she described how he had feebly raised his thin hand and said, " Not that, not that,

tell me about the Cross, and the Blood, and the Forgiveness of my sins."

My .... thats exactly what I want I to do this .... ! To tell you about the Cross, and the Blood, and the Forgiveness of Sins. Of course the critic's tell us that " the slaughter house religion belongs to the dark ages." Others tell us that the " blood shed on the Cross was of no more avail than when it was flowing through Christ's veins." You see, we live in a day when " modernists," reject the doctrine of the blood of Christ. People today want " a bloodless religion." But my .... it is not Christ the Example, or Christ the Teacher who saves us, it is Christ the Lamb of God crucified for the sins of the world. So I want to talk to you this .... about The Precious Blood of Christ ! For as Peter reminds us this Blood is " precious," ( 1:19 ) which means that not only

it is highly esteemed among us, but primarily that it is of infinite value in the eyes of God. What then shall we say about " THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST."

(1) WE CANNOT GET ON WITHOUT THE BLOOD

Now I know that some have tried to dispense with the blood of Christ. I'm aware that in certain circles it is the fashion to exclude the word " blood," from phrases and hymns for some regard it to crude or coarse for our modern ears. Men turn scornfully and speedily away from the church that delivers the heaven sent message

" that without shedding of blood there is no remission."

( Heb 9:22 ) But we declare without apology that (1)

You see without the blood:

(a) GOD'S WORD IS UNINTELLIGIBLE:

My .... the Bible will remain to you a closed Book unless and until you recognise the fact of the blood.

There is a scarlet highway which runs through the whole territory of Scripture which makes the Bible a crimson Book. Did you know that threaded all through the rope which is used by the Royal Navy is a thin red line so that no matter where the rope is cut into identity of ownership is immediately established ? My .... its just

the same with the Bible. Open it where you will and you'll find a blood red cord running right through it.

The blood is the crimson stream that flows from Genesis to Revelation. Indeed in this book you'll discover that God can PARDON but not without blood.

( Heb 9:22 ) You can be REDEEMED but not without blood. ( 1 Jn 1:7 ) HEAVEN can be gained but not without blood. ( Heb 10:19-20 ) PEACE can be enjoyed but not without blood. ( Col 1:20 ) SANCTIFICATION can be experienced but not without blood ( Heb 13:12 )

GLORIFICATION can be ours but not without blood.

( Rev 7:14 ) You see, without the blood (a)

(b) MAN'S WORSHIP IS UNACCEPTABLE:

Is this the very reason God is rejecting your worship this .... ? Is this not the very reason why God rejected the offering that was brought by Cain ? Like some of you Cain had green fingers and " Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord .... but to his offering the Lord had not respect." ( Gen 4:3-5 ) Why ? There was no blood in it. It may have been good in its own way but it was not God's way. You see, the Lord had appointed that the way to approach Him was through a blood-sacrifice. ( Gen 3:21 ) My .... this was a picture of the once and for all sacrifice that would made in God's good time. But Cain chose his own way instead of God's way. Which way are you choosing this .... ?

The Bible makes it clear that the only way whereby you and I can approach a Holy God is the way of blood-sacrifice .... the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus ! Have you come this way ? The way of the Cross ? Perhaps like Cain you are seeking to come to the Lord in your own way and on your own terms ? Tell me: what are you offering the Lord this .... ? Your good works: moral character: religious exercises: charity ?

Do you not recognise that these things will only meet with God's rejection ? For its only on the basis of the Saviour's blood that we can approach God !

My .... are you beginning to see the VALUE of the precious blood ? Ours is a Blood-stained Bible. Ours is a Blood-stained Throne. Ours is a Blood-stained Church. Ours is a Blood-stained Heaven. Ours is a Blood-stained Pilgrimage. Ours is a Blood-stained Gospel. For without the blood:

(c) OUR WITNESS IS UNPROFITABLE:

It may be very clever and extremely popular but it has no real saving quality in it if it has omitted the blood in all its NT significance. Do you how Paul came to Corinth ? He was so obsessed with the preaching of the Cross that he cried, " I determined .... Him crucified."

( 1 Cor 2:2 ) And without apology he declared, " We preach Christ crucified." ( 1 Cor 1:23 ) Christian .... do you make much of the Cross in your singing ? Do you make much of the blood in your testifying ? Do you extol Calvary in your preaching ? There was an old Professor in Princeton seminary, when Princeton College, the great school of Presbyterianism in the USA was a bulwark for truth. When the students graduated the old Professor used to get and stand at his desk and say, " Young man, make much of the blood of Christ in your ministry, preach up the blood." May God help us to preach up the blood in this church. For we believe in the precious blood. My .... its the heart throb of our message to a lost world and we will preach it: teach it: and rejoice in it until that day our voices will blend in ceaseless praise to Him who has redeemed us by His precious blood. (1)

(2) WE CANNOT GET OUT WITHOUT THE BLOOD

For we are by nature more terribly in bondage than were the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. Indeed their glorious deliverance is the Divinely-intended picture of the only way in which we can be freed from bondage to sin. Do you recall:

(a) THE BONDAGE THEY WERE SUBJECT TO:

The Bible says that they " were in the house of bondage." ( Exod 13:13 ) As Pharaoh pursued policies to crush: weaken: diminish Israel. He deprived them of their FREEDOM: ( Exod 1:10 ) he deprived them of their FAMILIES: ( 1:22 ) he deprived them of their FUTURE: ( 5:25 ) My .... can you see them ? Here they were dwelling in a dark land: subject to a ruthless tyrant: bound to clanking chains. I wonder is that a picture of you spiritually this .... ? Are you controlled by the devil ? The Bible speak of those " who are taken captive by him at his will," ( 2 Tim 2:26 ) Are you bound by the chains of sin ? The Lord Jesus says

" whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."

( Jn 8:34 ) Is your lifestyle one of sinning ? Have you tried to kick the habit only to discover that you are under a power that's greater than your own ? A sign once hung above a piece of complicated machinery in a textile factory.

The sign read, " If your threads get tangled call the foreman." One day a lady was working away and she got her threads tangled. When she tried to disentangle them, she only made matters worse. Finally in desperation, she called the foreman. Looking at the mess she had made, the foreman asked, " Why didn't you call for me like the sign says ?" " Well," responded the woman, " I thought I could untangle them myself. But the sign instructed you to call for me," said the foreman. " But," she replied, " I did my best." The foreman quickly answered " Your best is not good enough. The next you have a problem, call for me." My .... have you been trying to do it yourself ? Trying to untangle your sins, your life in your own strength ? Its not good enough. It will never work. You need to call for Christ ! You see, down there in Egypt they needed a sacrifice for sin for there was (a)

(b) THE BLOOD THEY WERE SAVED BY:

For God said " When I see the blood I will Passover you." ( Exod 12:13 ) You see, God intended the death of the lamb to be a substitute in the place of others: in the stead of others. That meant two things:

* THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB WAS SHED:

The death of the lamb had to be Accomplished:

( Exod 12:6 ) Will you come with me to Calvary this

.... ? Look at the face that was marred more than the face of any man: look at that brow which was pierced with many a thorn: look at that back which was ripped in sinless shreds. My .... have you beheld Him ? Do you see Him as God's sacrifice as God's Lamb as God's sin-bearing Son ? As your acceptance with God ? *

* THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB WAS SPRINKLED:

The death of the lamb had to be Appropriated: How was this done ? By means of a bunch of hyssop ? And just as hyssop was the means of conveying the blood from the bason to the doorposts, so faith is the means of making the sacrifice of Calvary of personal benefit to you ! My .... have you appropriated the sacrifice of Calvary ? Have you applied the blood to your soul ? Does God see your sheltering beneath the blood of the Lamb ? For may years there stood in the marketplace of Rotterdam in Holland a curious old corner house known as " the house of a 1,000 fears." In the 16th century King Philip of Spain was lord of the land. In his hatred for the Dutch people he tortured: maimed: and imprisoned thousands of them. When finally, the people rose up in rebellion he sent a great Spanish army under the Duke of Alva to put down this rebellion.

The city of Rotterdam had held out for some time before it finally fell. From house to house the army went slaying all inside. In one house a group of men and women and children were hiding. As the soldiers approached a 1,000 fears gripped their hearts. Then one young man had a great idea. Taking a goat in the house he killed it and shed its blood and then with a broom he swept the blood under the door of the house. The group waited breathlessly.

The soldiers began to batter on the door and then they saw the blood, " come on men, the work has already been done, the blood is streaming forth from the door."

Shortly after the army withdrew, they emerged from the house of a 1,000 terrors band of grateful people, who lived because a goat died ! My .... God has made a crimson archway. Its the blood of the Lamb. Are you under it ? Can you say this .... " The wrath of God .... "

(3) WE CANNOT GET IN WITHOUT THE BLOOD

That is to say. We cannot get:

(a) INTO THE HOLIEST NOW:

Without the blood. In the Old Testament Tabernacle there were two compartments. There was the " Holy Place," and there was " the Holiest of all." A veil separated these two rooms, and barred access into the presence of God. That veil had one message, " NO ENTRY." Only on one day, in each year, by one man was access possible. So on the Day of Atonement the High Priest entered and took with him for himself and the sins of the children of Israel, the blood of sacrifice.

And on and before the Mercy Seat was that blood sprinkled. ( Lev 16:14 ) You say, " what was the significance of it all ?" Well, when the Lord Jesus died on Calvary we read these words " And behold the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom .... " ( Matt 27:51 )

And by that rending, the way into the presence of God was thrown open to all believers, and our Great High Priest has gone in first, to ensure our acceptance, " with His own blood." ( Heb 9:12 ) And on the ground of that precious Blood, we dare to enter, yes we are invited to enter even " with boldness." " having therefore, brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus " ( Heb 10:19 ) My Christian .... when you come into God's presence to pray .... do you ever pause for a moment on the threshold to ponder over this ? That it is only " by the Blood of Jesus," that you can venture further in ? Do you ever pause for a moment to wonder at this ? That it is only " by the blood of Jesus," that you have unchallenged entry ? (a)

(b) INTO HEAVEN HEREAFTER:

Without the Blood. " And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." ( Rev 21:27 )

The glory of Heaven is open to every blood-washed soul, it is closed to all whose heart remains unsprinkled: unwashed and unprepared ! ( Rev 21:8 ) My .... where does that leave you this .... ? " Have you been to

Jesus for the cleansing power are you washed in the blood of the Lamb ?" Queen Victoria as was her practice often visited those were humble and poor.

On one occasion she had been in with a lonely cottager who was a believer in the Lord Jesus. Before leaving she enquired if she could do anything for her. " I have all I want, thank you, your Majesty." " But I should like to do something for you," said the Queen.

" I have all I need, thank you, your Majesty, but if your Majesty would promise one thing I would be very glad." " I shall do that if I can," replied the Queen.

" Oh, your Majesty, if you would just promise to meet me in Heaven."

Softly, came the Queens reply, " I shall do that by virtue of the blood of the Lord Jesus." (1)(2)(3)

Peter says, its " the precious blood of Christ." Is it precious to you ? Is Calvary real to you ?