The Cross and the Blood
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 09/13/2020
Foundation Scriptures:
And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20 AMPC
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV
A. THE CROSS.
1. His Substitutionary Work at the Cross.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV — For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
b. Jesus took our place and became our Substitute (Isa. 53:1-12).
c. A substitute is a replacement—a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
d. Jesus was made to be sin on the cross—typified by the serpent that Moses lifted up on the pole (John 3:14-15; Num. 21:9; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24a).
e. Jesus took our place in His death and resurrection—we died with Him and we are quickened and made alive in Him (Philippians 2:5-8; 2 Tim. 2:11; Heb. 2:9,17; 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:18).
2. Propitiation and Reconciliation.
a. Romans 3:24-25 KJV — Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
b. Propitiation: an atonement; to render favorable; favorable, gracious, kind—the mercy seat, place of atonement.
c. The Father—because He loved us—sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins; and the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2; 4:10,14).
d. Jesus was the Propitiation for our sins—our Advocate—absolving us from guilt and reconciling us to God (Rom. 4:24b-25; 5:10; Col. 1:20-22)
e. Romans 5:1 KJV — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. THE BLOOD.
1. The Blood of Jesus Redeems Us from Sin.
a. Matthew 26:28 NKJV — For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
b. Redeem: to redeem by payment of a price to recover from the power of another; to ransom; buy off; to buy up; to buy up for one’s self or for one’s use; rescue from loss.
c. We are redeemed—purchased—and forgiven by the precious Blood of Jesus (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Pet. 1:18-23; Rev. 5:9).
d. We are redeemed from the Curse of the Law—from our own works, sin, religion and tradition, and the wrath of God (Gal. 3:13-14; Col. 2:14).
2. The Shedding of Blood.
a. Blood has to be shed for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28; Rom. 3:24-25; Heb. 9:22).
b. Remission: freedom; deliverance; forgiveness; liberty; release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness or pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed); remission of the penalty.
c. Under the Old Covenant, people were “counted righteous” by the blood of animals, which atoned for (covered or hid) sin, and had to be continually repeated (Heb. 10:1-4).
d. The Lord Jesus Christ ratified the New Testament in His own blood, as our “Sacrificial Lamb” (1 Pet. 1:19).
e. John 1:29b NKJV — Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
f. 1 Corinthians 5:7b NKJV — For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
g. Hebrews 9:28a NKJV — So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.
h. The Blood of Jesus was shed once and never needs to be shed again—He completely washed away our sin (Heb. 10:18; 29; 13:20).
i. He became the Mediator of a new and better covenant (Heb. 8:6; 9:12-15; 12:24).
3. Cleansed and Justified.
a. The Blood of Jesus washes us and cleanses us from all sin and cleanses our conscience from dead works (Heb. 9:12-15; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5).
b. We are justified by His Blood—and saved from wrath (Rom. 2:24-25; 5:9).
c. The Father forgives our sins, forgets them, and no longer holds them against us (Isa. 43:25; Ps. 103:12; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7).
d. Once we are born again, if we make a mistake and repent for it, Jesus’ Blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
4. Reconciled to the Father.
a. The Blood of Jesus reconciles us to the Father.
b. Ephesians 2:13 NKJV — But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
c. Because we have sinned, we cannot stand before God on our own merits—our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:23).
d. But through the Blood of the Cross, God made peace and reconciled all things to Himself, once and for all (Rom. 5; Col. 1:19-22).
5. Boldness in His Presence.
a. Hebrews 10:19 KJV — Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
b. We have a new and living way—we draw nigh unto God boldly, by the Blood, with faith and a clean conscience (Heb. 10:19-23).
c. We can come boldly before His throne to ask for help and find mercy and grace (Heb. 4:15-16).
6. The Power to Overcome.
a. The Blood of Jesus gives us the power to overcome (Rev. 12:11).
b. We reign as kings and priests on the earth through the blood of Jesus (Rev. 5:10).
c. 1 Corinthians 15:57 AMPC — But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
7. The Blood of Jesus Is Held in Honor in Heaven.
a. Revelation 5:9 NKJV — And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
b. No one is left out—the Blood of Jesus paid the price for, and is made available to, every man, every woman, every tribe, every tongue, every people, and every nation!