POWER IN THE BLOOD: A Study in the Book of Hebrews
Christians have a blood religion, as opposed to what?
A religion based on your works.
1. NO BLOOD, NO FORGIVENESS.
The Old Testament taught us this fact: “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of BLOOD there is no forgiveness.” [9:22]
2. BY HIS BLOOD WE OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE.
“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own BLOOD, having obtained eternal redemption.” [9:12]
3. WE DRAW NEAR TO GOD IN PRAYER BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the BLOOD of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” [10:19-22]
4. THE BLOOD IS THE BASIS OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
“May the God of peace, who through the BLOOD of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” [13:20-21]
5. DANGER ALERT: DISREGARDING THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the BLOOD of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, `It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, `The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” [10:26-31]