How Precious Is the Blood of Christ To Us? by Greg Gordon

sermonindex Apr 2, 2012

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." - (1 Peter 1:18-19)

What an important truth for us to consider today. The Apostle Paul when writing this epistle calls the blood of Christ "precious" for it cannot be anything else but that. How can we estimate the value of God's life, for the Bible says that "the life" is in the blood. There absolutely cannot be anything more valuable on this earth, then the life of God poured out for men. You can add together all the gold, silver and precious treasures found in the entire expanse of the earth and it does not even begin to estimate the value of Christ's precious blood.

But now consider that this blood was poured out for you. When Christ died, this death was for you. When the Romans plunged the nails into His hands and the spear into His side, this was for you. Christ became sin for you. Oh, can you even begin to understand what this cost God dear saints? For God in love to shed His life-blood for you? It only took one drop of this inestimably precious blood to atone for all your sins that were against God. One drop to appease the anger and wrath of God against you. One drop to free you from all the power of sin in your life.

The passage says that this blood "redeemed" you to God. "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14). Such truths should bring a deep enduring thankfulness and joy in our souls. Have you been purchased, redeemed and saved by God? Has this blood saved you? If so this should be the true motivation to follow in obedience to the way of discipleship with Jesus Christ.

"In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope." (1 Peter 1:3). Remember we always stand by the mercy of God. This is the great foundation we are always upon. If we begin to think ourselves to be wise, spiritual, and proud then we are in a dangerous place of falling from His grace. It is mercy and it will ever be mercy that saves a soul from hell. We cannot trust our repentance, sorrow over sin or even apparent victories over sin. For we must always be looking to God; His mercy and the blood of Christ as our sufficiency. All obedience, victory and holiness stems from this foundation.

How could we ever earn the right for Christ to shed His blood for us? What good works, repentance or any spiritual obligation could ever merit to make us worthy of partaking of God's life through His Son? It is one of the greatest spiritual deceptions to think yourself pleasing to God apart from His precious blood. The blood of Christ is not merely to forgive a few sins you committed in the past. It is the power and life of God that will give you the ability to walk in His ways. "Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood." (1 Peter 1:2).

Oh the precious blood of Christ
So free and everlastingly given
My help, support and confidence
My rest till journeying days are done.

When applied it gives life
When trusted our salvation
May we never give ourselves
to lesser things of this earth.

The blood cleanses from sin
and absolves the wrath of God
It frees me inwardly and
it will clean of every sinful blot.

And when we in glory stand
Fitted with His perfect righteousness
Our song, our glory, our all
will be the precious blood of the Lamb.

And may it be that our lives will be poured out in word and deed with great thankfulness for the blood of Christ that redeemed us. May our greatest motivation be His life poured out for us. Our security before God has been and will ever be the blood of the Lamb. Let us cling to this confidence and allow its power to work in us perfect obedience to our Father (Matthew 5:48).

L

live4jc Apr 2, 2012

Thank you for sharing this, brother. Praise God for the precious blood, shed by His son, on our behalf.

"18knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

1 Peter 1:18,19

In Jesus,
John

L

live4jc Apr 2, 2012

I had read through what you had shared and then thought of 1 Peter 1:18,19 but hadn't realized initially that you had already shared this verse at the beginning of what you had written. After reading what you shared, this verse just seemed to stand out as one that related well to the heart of what you were expressing. Then, I noticed that you had already shared this verse.

In Jesus,
John

E

El-Bethel Apr 2, 2012

Bro. Greg,
Thanks for this article. I pray that I never lose the wonder of His precious blood.
Oh the love that sought me
Oh the blood that bought me
Oh the grace that brought me to the fold
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold

An year ago, Holy Spirit opened my eyes to realize what it means to be "accepted in the Beloved (Ep 1: 6)". I imagined a conversation going between the Father and the Son before the foundation of the world. The Son taking a list of people whom He has chosen to be saved, gave it to the Father. Many names were there. There was a name among many - Simon Peter.
Father asked His Son,"Son, why did you choose Peter? For three and half years he is going to be with you - eating and drinking, witnessing all the miracles and wonders-but at the end of he is going to deny you. Again he will go back to the world fishing. Are you going to choose such a person?".
Jesus said, "Yes Dad. I am going to choose him. I need him to build My Church".
Father then said, "In that case a price has to be paid for him".
Jesus said," OK Dad. I'll pay that price".
Then against the name Simon Peter the Father wrote - "ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED".

Then the Father saw another name -Saul -in the list.
Father, wondering, asked Jesus,"why My Son, have you chosen Saul?. He is going to persecute all the Christians of the early Church. He is going to play a role in the stoning of Stephan."
Jesus said," Yes Dad. It's true. But I have great great plans for him. I need him"
Father said,"Son, then you have to pay a huge price for him. You have to die."
The Son said,"Oh! Dad, I am willing. It's worth dying for Saul".
Then the Father wrote against the name Saul - "ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED AS PAUL".

Then the Father saw a name "El-Bethel" and asked the Son,"Son, why have you chosen El-Bethel. He will bring such a dishonour to Your name. He'll give umpteen occasions to the enemies to blaspheme. Backsliding is going to be the trade mark of his life. He will hear wonderful truths and will be a part of one of the best Church and yet he will not be loyal to his wife but will commit sin with somebody's wife. He will be one of the most disloyal people. Are you going to choose a fellow like him?"
Jesus said, "Yes Dad. I have chosen him".
Father said, "Then you have to pay a huge price for him. All the blood from your body has to be shed for him."
Jesus said, “OK Dad, I'll pay the price for El-Bethel".
Father said, "May not be enough. Son, You and I were one from eternity. And I know, you value that oneness more than anything. Now if you are going to choose El-Bethel, You may have to lose that. That is the price You have to pay for El=Bethel"
Jesus looking beyond all my faults, seeing my need said,"Dad, if that is the price I have to pay for El-Behel, I am willing."
Then the Father wrote against the name: "ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED".

What do you think one can do than to worship with tears when you realize such a deep love of Jesus Christ.
I pray that I will be gripped by this love every day.

Oh the love that sought me
Oh the blood that bought me
Oh the grace that brought me to the fold
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold

He washed the bleeding sin wounds
And poured oil and wine
He whispered to assure me
"I've found you, thou art mine,"
I never heard a sweeter voice
It made my aching heart rejoice

He pointed to the nail prints
For me His blood was shed
A mocking crown so thorny
Was placed upon His head
I wonder what He saw in me
To suffer such deep agony

R

RobertW Apr 2, 2012

Very good brother. The blood of Christ is unparalleled precious indeed.

sermonindex Apr 2, 2012

Thank you brothers for your replies. May the precious blood never lose its value in my eyes.

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain."

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

sermonindex Apr 2, 2012

Thank you, Brother Greg. "Lest I forget"
Your message caused another of the top 3 hymns that's ministered to my heart, to come to mind.

O sacred Head, now wounded,
\twith grief and shame weighed down,
\tnow scornfully surrounded
\twith thorns, thine only crown:
\thow pale thou art with anguish,
\twith sore abuse and scorn!
\tHow does that visage languish
\twhich once was bright as morn!

2.\tWhat thou, my Lord, has suffered
\twas all for sinners' gain;
\tmine, mine was the transgression,
\tbut thine the deadly pain.
\tLo, here I fall, my Savior!
\t'Tis I deserve thy place;
\tlook on me with thy favor,
\tvouchsafe to me thy grace.

3.\tWhat language shall I borrow
\tto thank thee, dearest friend,
\tfor this thy dying sorrow,
\tthy pity without end?
\tO make me thine forever;
\tand should I fainting be,
\tLord, let me never, never
\toutlive my love for thee.

Thank you!

A

AbideinHim Apr 2, 2012

Thank you Greg for this article.

I believe that a good measure of any church is the value that they place on the blood of Jesus.

Mike

S

Sree Apr 2, 2012

One drop to free you from all the power of sin in your life.

Can you please explain more of it? How can the blood of Jesus save me from POWER of sin?

Based on 1 Peter 1:2 (that you have quoted), it is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that saves a man from the Power Of Sin by bringing him to obedience to God. This is my understanding.

I am not posting this to challenge you, but just to know more about your understanding on how the blood of Jesus saves us from POWER of Sin.

sermonindex Apr 2, 2012

So true, Brother Mike!

This was the first hymn I was thinking of with "Lest I forget". I found that there's another by that title, but "Lead me to Calvary" was on my mind.

Good thread and comments, for this week especially.

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Refrain -
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Refrain

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

Refrain

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

Refrain

N

narrowpath Apr 2, 2012

Thanks Greg for bringing the blood of Christ to our rememberance:

Let me reply with a wonderful revival hymn.

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

E

El-Bethel Apr 3, 2012

Today one brother sent a mail 'The Blood".

Given below is a profound christian thought and truth sent to us by Dr. Rabinder Boaz (original source unknown).
"The Blood"

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.

She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began.

You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past.

As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: "My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!!
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:23