The Precious Blood of Christ

Once again, thank you for your warm welcome. It's lovely to be with you again tonight,

and we pray God's blessing as we join together around his word. And so we're going to begin

by worshiping God, singing to his praise from Psalm 9. Psalm 9 and sing Psalms,

that's on page 8 of the Blue Psalm books, 9a.

We'll read from verse 9.

We'll sing down to the end of the verse marked 14, to the tune done firmly,

and standing to sing, The Lord Will Be a Hiding Place.

The Lord will be a hiding place, for the host of our rest,

and he will be a strong defence, for those who are distressed.

All those who know your name, O Lord, in you their just will place,

for you do not abandon those who seek your gracious face.

Sing praises to the Lord who saith, in Zion on his throne,

among the nations of the world,

proclaim what he has done.

For he, the adventurer of man's blood,

remembers evermore, the cry of the afflicted one,

he never will ignore.

O Lord, see how my enemies are persecuting me,

and mercy from the gates of death,

let me have set me free.

So that in Zion's city gates, pure grace I may declare,

and that I may exult with joy in your salvation air.

Let's unite our hearts in prayer.

Let us pray.

Gracious God, we are humbled this evening hour of worship,

that a God who is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,

one who is holy, holy, holy, holy,

one who inhabits eternity,

has indeed chosen to condescend to reveal himself to us,

that you are not a God who is distant or detached,

a God who cannot be known,

but rather a God who tells us even today to come.

Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest, rest for your souls.

And how we long this evening hour to know that,

rest afresh as we come and as we find ourselves

as those who are sojourners through this wilderness that is time.

negotiating our way through many trials and temptations,

difficulties and discouragements.

But yet in the midst of it all, you are God.

And so we praise you, O Lord,

that we are not found this Saturday evening as we once were,

perhaps, worshiping idols dumb,

giving ourselves over to the things of this world

that cry out peace, peace,

where there is no peace.

Those many temptations that captivate our hearts and our minds,

those things that even give to us pleasure,

but yet only for a moment.

We praise you, O Lord,

that by the grace of God,

we are able to see,

at least in a measure,

the deceitfulness of sin,

a world that promises us so much,

yet time and time again fails to deliver.

And so we bless you and we praise you then

for the fact that you never fail to deliver,

that you are a covenant-keeping God,

that you are a God who,

in spite of our unfaithfulness,

remains faithful,

a God whose promises are from everlasting to everlasting.

And in light of this,

we pray that we might be found as your people

pleading these promises,

for we have nothing else.

Not only would we plead these promises

that are set before us,

the innumerable truths in your scripture,

but that we would do so with confidence.

Forgive us, O Lord,

for our lack of faith.

Forgive us for neglecting to remember

that you are the creator of the heavens and the earth

and all that in them is.

You are the one who has wrought

perhaps even the greatest miracle of all

by bringing sinners such as we are

from darkness into your own marvellous light.

And as we reflect upon who you are

and the power of your hand,

help us all the more to believe,

to trust,

to come and to cast ourselves upon you.

And Lord, we pray this evening,

especially for this town.

We are so mindful of the fact that,

relatively speaking,

we are few in number gathered here,

that there are so many

seeking to find that fulfilment elsewhere.

Those who have no word of their soul,

those who are captured by the world

and the flesh and the devil.

Remind us, O Lord,

that it is but by the grace of God

that we are what we are.

And were it not for that grace,

we would be there also.

But what we long for, O Lord,

is to see this town revived and renewed,

that we as your people

might see afresh the wonder

of that salvation

that has been wrought for us

on Calvary's tree,

that we would afresh be amazed

by that sacrificial act of love

that has given unto us a hope

not only for time,

but for all eternity.

And that us being renewed

and revived in our own spirit,

that this would indeed

flow out to those around us,

our friends, our neighbours,

our family.

And that we would indeed see

days where your name

is high and lifted up,

even days,

as in days not so long ago,

where this very building

would be filled

with men and women,

boys and girls,

with that longing

and that desire in their heart

to come and worship you.

O Lord, you are able.

And so we pray it to be so,

for the glory of your name.

But in the meantime,

O Lord, we give thanks.

We give thanks

that you are still saving souls.

We praise your name

for our dear sister

who has professed faith

for the first time

in this congregation.

Although perhaps we know,

we do not all know her,

you know her.

You are the God

who has called her to yourself.

And we pray

that you would be with her

as she takes this step of faith

that she would know

in a very real way

the strengthening

that follows obedience.

That you would,

as it were,

put that wall of fire around her,

protecting her

from the fiery darts

of the evil one

who no doubt

even this evening hour

seeks to distract her

and to bring her

to that place of despondency.

We know that he is a liar.

He is the one

who seeks to rob us

of our peace.

And what we pray for her,

we pray for us all

as we prepare,

as we prepare to come

and to do this

in remembrance of you.

That we would do so

in remembrance of the one

who is so worth remembering.

In remembrance of the one

who never forgets us

although we forget him.

Lord,

that you would be pleased

in your mercy

and your grace

and your love

to grant unto us

even a glimpse

of yourself.

That we would behold

the beauty of the king

through the lattice

of his word.

That you would show

unto us something

of who you are

and what you have done

for wretched sinners

such as we are.

We are not worthy.

We are not worthy

of the smallest

of your mercies.

But yet we praise you

all the more

that we come not

leaning upon our own

worthiness,

our own good works,

but rather upon the one

who has cried out,

it is finished.

And if there are any

here tonight

who are yet to come

and to profess your name,

who perhaps have many fears

and questions

at the front of their mind

that are perhaps

prohibiting them

from doing so,

that you would

take these things

from them

and enable them

to see even tonight

that we are called

to a life of faith.

We are not to look

through the eyes

of our own reason,

but through the eyes

of Scripture.

That we would come

and that we would believe

that you are a God

who has never once

let down any

who have come out

on your side.

Yes, we know

for all of us here

we have times

of difficulties,

times of joy,

times of expectation,

times of sorrow.

Yet every step

of the way

you are there

by our side

leading us

and guiding us.

And so we pray then

that you would bless us

as we come around

your word this evening.

We thank you for it.

As it speaks to us,

as it challenges us

and encourages us

that you would grant

unto us hearing ears

and hearts

that are ready

and willing to receive

not the word

of the preacher

but the word

of God himself.

That your Holy Spirit

might truly be

in our midst

accompanying your truth

so that we might

be able to see

it was good

for us to meet.

We pray for

our dear brothers

here,

for James

and for Colin Mordo.

We give thanks

for their ministry,

for their witness,

for their faithfulness.

We pray, O Lord,

that they would see

fruit for their labor,

that they would be

encouraged in their work

as they continue

to reach out

with the good news

of the gospel

and that together

with their

curccession,

deacon's court,

their members

and their adherents,

they would have

that zeal

and vision

to indeed

go out

with that glorious

message

for time is short

and eternity

is long.

Go with us

then,

we pray,

and forgive us

for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

We're going to sing

then,

friends,

once more

from Psalm 19

in the Scottish Psalter.

Psalm 19.

I'm going to pick up

our reading

at verse 8.

That's on page 223.

Psalm 19.

The statutes

of the Lord

are right

and do rejoice

the heart.

The Lord's command

is pure

and doth light

to the eyes

impart.

Unspotted

is the fear

of God

and doth endure

forever.

The judgments

of the Lord

are true

and righteous

altogether.

We'll sing

down to the

end of the first

part of verse 13

to the praise

of God

and to the tune

Bethesda.

Standing to sing

The statutes

of the Lord

are right.

The statutes

of the Lord

are right

and do rejoice

the heart

the Lord's

heard The Lord's

peace

no matter

is pure

and dumb

high

to be

Fot swerve

little

And doth endure forever

The judgment's all the Lord are true

And righteous all together

They bore and bore

In much time old

To be desired and

And money, money

From the cold

That drop the sweeter fire

Moreover day

Thy servant mourn

Are thee this life should pain

A great reward provided is

For them that keep us safe

Who can this ever understand

Oh, thanks I'll be within

From sin

Thy cause

Thy servant keep

From all

Resanctious sin

Well friends, let's join together

To read the word of God

We're going to read from 1 Peter

1 Peter chapter 1

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

We can read the whole chapter together

Let us hear the word of God

Peter

Peter

An apostle of Jesus Christ

To those who are elect exiles

Of the dispersion in Pontus

Galatia

Cappadocia

Asia

And Bithynia

According to the foreknowledge

Of God the Father

In the sanctification of the Spirit

For obedience to Jesus Christ

And for sprinkling with his blood

May grace and peace be multiplied to you

Blessed be the God and Father

Of our Lord Jesus Christ

According to his great mercy

He has caused us to be born again

To a living hope

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

From the dead

To an inheritance that is imperishable

Undefiled and unfading

Kept in heaven for you

Who by God's power

Are being guarded

Through faith

For a salvation

Ready to be revealed

In the last time

In this you rejoice

Though now for a little while

If necessary

You have been grieved

By various trials

So that the tested

Genuineness of your faith

More precious than gold

That perishes

That it is tested by fire

May be found to result

In praise

And glory

And honor

At the revelation

Of Jesus Christ

Though you have not seen him

You love him

Though you do not now see him

You believe in him

And rejoice with joy

That is inexpressible

And filled with glory

Obtaining the outcome

Of your faith

The salvation

Of your souls

Concerning this salvation

The prophets

Who prophesied

About the grace

That was to be yours

Searched

And inquired carefully

Inquiring what person

Or time

The spirit of Christ

In them was indicating

When he predicted

The sufferings of Christ

And the subsequent glories

It was revealed to them

That they were serving

Not themselves

But you

In the things

That have now been

Announced to you

Through those

Who preach the good news

To you

By the Holy Spirit

Sent from heaven

Things

Into which the angels

Long to look

Therefore

Preparing your minds

For action

And being sober-minded

Set your hope

Fully on the grace

That will be brought

To you

At the revelation

Of Jesus Christ

As obedient children

Do not be conformed

To the passions

Of your former ignorance

But as he

Who has called you

Is holy

You also be holy

In all your conduct

Since it is written

You shall be holy

For I am holy

And if you call on him

As father

Who judges impartially

According to each one's deeds

Conduct yourselves

With

Conduct yourselves

With fear

Throughout the time

Of your exile

Knowing that you

Were ransomed

From the futile ways

Inherited from your forefathers

Not with perishable things

Such as silver or gold

But with the precious blood

Of Christ

Like that of a lamb

Without blemish

Or spot

Or spot

He was foreknown

Before the foundation

Of the world

But was made manifest

In the last times

For your sake

Who through him

Are believers in God

Who raised him from the dead

And gave him glory

So that your faith

And hope

Are in God

Having purified your souls

By your obedience

To the truth

For a sincere

Brotherly love

Love one another

Earnestly

With a pure heart

Since you have been

Born again

Not of perishable seed

But of imperishable

Through the living

And abiding

Word of God

For all flesh

Is like grass

And all its glory

Like the flower

Of grass

The grass withers

And the flower falls

But the word

Of the Lord

Remains

Forever

And this word

Is the good news

That was preached

To you

Amen

And we pray

God's blessing

On that portion

Of his own

Holy word

Friends

We're going to

Sing once more

To the praise of God

This time from

Psalm 51

And sing Psalms

That's on page 67

Psalm 51

Reading at the beginning

Of the psalm

Oh my God

Have mercy on me

In your steadfast love

I pray

In your infinite compassion

My transgressions

Wipe away

Cleanse me

From iniquity

Wash my sin

Away from me

For I know

My own transgressions

I can see

My sinful plight

We'll sing down

To the end of the verse

Marked 12

To the tune Ottawa

Standing to sing

Oh my God

Have mercy on me

Oh my God

Have mercy on me

In your steadfast love

I pray

In your infinite compassion

My transgressions

Wipe away

Cleanse me from iniquity

Wash my sin

Wash my sin away

From me

For I know

My own transgressions

I can see my sinful fight

You, you, only I've offended

And done evil

In your sight

And done evil

In your sight

So your words

Are verified

And your verdict

Justified

And your verdict

Justified

From my birth

I have been sinful

Such a nature

I receive

Sinful

From my first beginning

In my mother's womb

In my mother's womb

Conceived

Truth you look for

In my heart

Wisdom to me

You impart

In my heart

Cleanse with this

Of purifying me

I'll be whiter

Than the snow

Let the hope

You crush

Be joyful

May I joy

And gladness

Know

From my failure

I hear

Peace

Brought out all my

Wickedness

Lord

Create a pure heart

In me

And a steadfast mind

Clean you

Do not take your spirit

From me

Cast me not away

From you

Give me

The joy

I have

Keep my

Willing

Spirit

Act

For a short time

Friends

Let's turn back

To the chapter

We read together

1 Peter

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

Chapter 1

We can read

Verses 18

And 19

We'll read

From verse 17

And if you call

On him as father

Who judges

Impartially

According to

Each one's

Deeds

Conduct yourselves

With fear

Throughout the time

Of your exile

Knowing that you

Were ransomed

From the futile

Ways

Inherited from

Your forefathers

Not with

Perishable things

Such as

Silver

Or gold

But with the

Precious blood

Of Christ

Like that of

A lamb

Without blemish

Or without

Spot

Especially those

Four

Five words

The precious

Blood

Of Christ

The precious

Blood

Of

Christ

I wonder

Friends

This evening

Do you have

Any phobias

Might seem like

A strange

Question to ask

At the beginning

Of a sermon

Are there any

Things in life

That you're

Particularly

Scared of

To the point

That you cannot

Be near them

In any

Way

Shape

Or form

There are of course

Many different

Phobias

Claustrophobia

Of course

Is that

Fear

Of confined

Spaces

So that when

You find yourself

In a confined

Space

You have to

Get out

Aerophobia

Is a fear

Of flying

Arachnophobia

Is a fear

Of spiders

The list

Goes on

And on

And on

There's a

Phobia

For nearly

Everything

In this

World

But perhaps

One of the

Most common

Phobias

Is

Hemophobia

Hemophobia

What is

Hemophobia

Well hemophobia

Is a

Phobia

Of blood

There are

Countless

People

No doubt

Some of you

Here tonight

Who simply

Cannot stand

The sight

Of blood

And in

Seeing blood

They might

Faint

They might

Pass out

Yet what's

Interesting about

Hemophobia

More than

Any other

Phobia

Is the

Irony

That's

Attached

To it

Because

In being

Scared of

Blood

You're being

Scared of

The one

Thing

That we

Need

To be

Alive

Blood

Is of

Course

The most

Important

Thing

If you

Like

In

Your

Body

Or

Mine

It's

Blood

Circulating

Around

Our

Bodies

As we

Sit

Here

In this

Church

Tonight

That is

Keeping

Us

Alive

When the

Blood

Fails

To do

So

When it

Doesn't

Reach

Various

Cells

And members

Of the

Body

What

Happens

Will

Those

Cells

Die

For example

We know

That at

Times

People

Might need

To have

One of

Their

Limbs

Amputated

When the

Blood

Stops

Flowing

To

That

Particular

Limb

Or

More

Commonly

When the

Blood

To

Our

Hearts

Is

Somehow

Obstructed

Or

Blocked

We

We

Can

Have

A

Heart

Attack

And

We

Can

Even

Sadly

Die

Why

Is

That

Death

Well

Quite

Simply

Friends

Because

Without

Blood

There

Is

Death

And

So

That

Very

Thing

That

We

Can

Perhaps

Be

Scared

Of

Or

Cause

Us

To

Be

Squeamish

Is

The

Very

Thing

That

We

All

Need

To

Live

Last

Night

We

Considered

Why

We're

Here

We're

Here

Of

Course

As

We

Saw

In

Peter's

Encounter

With

Satan

We

Are

Here

Because

We

Are

In

Christ

Our

Security

Is

Not

In

Ourselves

In

Our

Own

Confidence

If

You

Like

But

Our

Security

Is

In

His

Commitment

To

Us

And

Tonight

Friends

We're

Going

To

Think

About

The

How

How

Has

It

Been

Made

Possible

For

Tonight

Your

Confidence

And

My

Confidence

To

Be

In

Christ

For

Us

To

Have

Such

A

An

Unshakeable

Security

In

Him

The

Answer

Blood

And

Specifically

The

Precious

Blood

Of

Christ

That

Which

We

Need

To

Live

Not

Only

Physically

But

More

Importantly

Spiritually

Now

It's

True

It's

True I

Would

Say that

There are

Many parts of the Bible that for many of us not all but for many of us here tonight we've been brought up knowing we hear certain phrases and we just take them for granted we don't really think too much about them we don't look into them and and perhaps delve into exactly what they mean

What they mean i wonder tonight does the precious blood of christ come into that we hear about the blood being spilled we hear of the importance of the blood for our to cover our sins but what exactly does that mean well that's what we're going to think about for a time tonight but before we consider the blood just a little bit by way of context here we are in first Peter

Now bear in mind the words that are penned here in this epistle that we have before us are the words of the very same man that we considered last evening the one who had denied the lord three times yes peter he had many faults he had many failings he was brash he was bold he was impulsive at times but but nonetheless what did the lord choose

To do with him did he write him to do with him did he write him to do with him did he write him off did he cast him to one side no he didn't he chose to use him how by strengthening his brethren by strengthening his brethren and that's what he went on to do he went on to strengthen his brethren

Peter was in many ways the spokesman for the twelve disciples the one who would voice certain opinions on behalf of the group at certain times and we see this in the book of acts in particular where we see peter being described as a rock the one in that position of leadership and authority

In acts 1 15 we see that peter sets that ball rolling if you like when it comes to getting a replacement for judas he's the one who's proactive in ensuring that happens

on the day of peter's делать it's starts BOB on the exodus on the day of peter and acts 2 peter wpft peter he stands up in order to to affirm overwhelmingly

to assumption of the spirituality

of the purity of the people

There was a reason for this the spirit of the lord at that time working mighty

amongst the people so much so that you will remember they were accused of being

drunk

an accusation which Peter stands up and refutes as he he did in in many areas and in front of

the masses of people time and time again Peter went on to do what the Lord said he would do

by strengthening his brethren not least by writing the epistle that we have before us here tonight

now it's thought that this epistle was written around about AD 64 65 sometimes with epistles and

letters the exact dates are debated but round about that time and this was a an extremely significant

time in the history of the Roman Empire in July of AD 64 the city of Rome it was completely

annihilated by fire it was destroyed and and it's thought the city was set alight on purpose

who was it set on a light by well the emperor himself Nero and so we might ask well why would

the emperor want to to set a light to to his own city why would he want to burn it down

well the reason he wanted to burn it down was that he wanted to to build it bigger and better than

before now naturally the people of Rome they were devastated by this they lost absolutely everything

their homes and in some cases their lives and what happened following this well resentment set in amongst

the people that they're outraged that Nero could have done such a thing and as often happens when when

the spotlight comes upon leaders in any kind of negative way what do they do they deflect they take the

spotlight from themselves they move it to someone or to something else to take the heat off them and

that's what Nero does he removes the spotlight from himself and who does he place it on the young

Christian church of Rome and because of this persecution sets in the people gather momentum if you like in

their persecution of the Lord's people you know what it's like when when people get carried away when

people begin to whisper and and people get ideas in their head that aren't necessarily based on fact

but still uh they they go with it that's what we see happening here in Rome and so that's why Peter's writing

this letter he's writing this letter to the persecuted church he's writing this letter to Christians

just like you and just like me well we're not in the persecuted church but nonetheless

Christians who need to be

encouraged to strengthen the brethren to help them to try at least to to keep positive in such dark days to to to not

become bitter in their faith or to lose hope to always remember to trust in the person and in the work of the

Lord Jesus Christ now that wouldn't have been easy for them it's not easy for any of us when we have

difficult providences just to to to to let go of those if you like and and to somehow always feel

strong in the Lord it's hard and so that's why we continually need those reminders just to help us just to

to encourage us as we negotiate our way through this world and we're better friends to start in this first chapter

and to make direct reference to the precious blood of Christ

the precious blood of Christ

now the Bible it's it's full of blood

there are around 450 references to blood throughout the pages of scripture

blood is central

to the whole narrative of redemption

but you know the the very God who's it's amazing how God works things

just so wonderfully together there's always a temptation that we divorce God from certain

things and we forget that it's it's God who's created all things it's God who created blood to work in

such a miraculous way in our bodies it's it's him that's the author of it all he's a creator he's a designer

and so in using blood in the at the center of the narrative of redemption he knew exactly what he was doing this this

crimson thread if you like that that runs right the way from Genesis to Revelation

but why blood

well I hardly need to remind you that

we have Genesis 1

and what do we see in Genesis 1 2 3 we

we see things not quite as they ought

to have been

we see do we not

that disobedience of Adam

that disobedience of Adam that plummeted mankind you and me with you into sin

and into

misery and because of this what happened

consequently

communion between the creator God

and his created beings

was

broken

but not only was this this communion between God and man broken

but also death

came into the world that's why death isn't natural

death is ugly

it's no way to be celebrated or glamorized

it's not the way things were supposed to be

we were not

created

to die

it's the last

enemy

and so we all

died

in

Adam

and we're reminded are we not

in Romans 5

that just

as sin

came into the world

through one man

and death

through sin

and so death spread

to all men

because

all

sinned

we all

died

in Adam

and as Adam

took off that fruit

what happened was that

his very blood

itself

was contaminated

by sin

so that the process of

of decay

in the body

it began to take place

not only in him

but in all of his offspring

including you

including me

and why was this

it was because the wages of sin

is death

physical death

yes

but spiritual death

also

spiritual death

in a lost

eternity

but that's not the end of the story

is it

because the wonder

and the marvel of the gospel

is that the Lord

has not left us

to ourselves

that's why we're here tonight

to not

as we once were

drinking from the broken cisterns

of this world

he's not left us

to ourselves

the world

leaves us

to ourselves

the world doesn't care about us

the devil doesn't care about us

but the Lord does

and because he cares

for mankind

what has he done

he has opened up

to us

that way of escape

that way

of forgiveness

forgiveness

and in order for there to be forgiveness

there needs

to be blood

what do we read in

Hebrews 9 22

and according to the law

almost all things

are purified

with blood

and without

the shedding

of blood

there is

no

remission

of

sins

and that's why we see so much blood

in the Old Testament

at times

as we read through the pages

of the Old Testament

we can

see that

there maybe is

too much blood

for our liking

and we wonder

why

what's

this

all

about

well the clue is found

in Leviticus 7

11

sometimes we look at Leviticus

and we think

well what relevance does that have

to us today

it's

it's hard

and it's heavy

but Christ is there

for in Leviticus 17

11

what do we read

for the life

of the flesh

is in

the blood

a wonderful statement

the life

of the flesh

is in the blood

and I have given it

to you

upon the altar

to make atonement

for your souls

for it is the blood

that makes

atonement

for the soul

now the way

in which these offerings

were to be

administrated

is outlined

in Leviticus 1

and verses 2 to 3

highlight the fact

that the worshipper

I'm not going to go

into detail about this

but just as an overview

the worshipper

was to bring

an offering

to the Lord

an offering

of his own flock

or herd

that was to be

a male

without blemish

it was to be

perfect

then what would

happen is

the offerer

was to place

his hand

on the head

of the burnt

offering

and it would

be accepted

accepted as what

well it would be

accepted

as a means

of atoning

for his sins

it would

it would act

as a symbolic

and it's important

to remember

it's symbolic

a symbolic

transfer

of his sin

and his

guilt

so the guilt

the sin

symbolically

was transferred

to the animal

and then the animal

would be killed

and as the animal

would be killed

the blood of the animal

would then be sprinkled

all around

the altar

that was by the door

of the tabernacle

of meeting

and we're going to think

a bit more

about the tabernacle

tomorrow

God willing

now this was

of course

the Old Testament

the Old Covenant

and because it was

the Old Testament

it was the blood

of animals

and not humans

that was shed

and because it was

the blood of animals

and not humans

what we see

in the Old Testament

is but a shadow

of what was still

to come

because the blood

of goats

or bulls

could never ever

hope to atone

for the sin

of mankind

ultimately

because it was

man who sinned

it was man

who would have

to pay

the price

for sin

and that's where

we come to the pages

of the New Testament

because there

we meet that man

that man

that has brought us

here tonight

together

the Lord

Jesus

Christ

1 Corinthians

15

21

for since

by man

came death

by man

also came

the resurrection

of the dead

for as

as in Adam

all die

even so

in Christ

all

shall be

made

alive

and so really

friends

the blood

of Christ

it's but a

synonym

of

the gospel

for the gospel

a synonym

for salvation

and

for

redemption

that's why

Peter needs

to remind

believers

he needs

to remind

these struggling

believers

that the blood

is precious

that's why

you and I

need to be

reminded tonight

that the blood

is precious

we hear these

things being said

we say them

we read them

but we need

reminded as

to exactly

what they

mean

and we

might ask

well why

why is

this blood

precious

we know

what it

does

but what

makes it

so precious

well there's

a few

things

firstly what

we know

is that the

blood of

Jesus Christ

it justifies

now we hear

theological words

like

justification

and perhaps

we switch

off

and we

think well

that's

just

theology

I don't

really want

to think

about that

just now

these words

at times

can lead

us perhaps

not to

tune in

but these

words behind

them have

very simple

meaning

the blood

of Jesus

Christ

justifies

what does

that mean

well we

are as

sinners

by nature

unjust

people

we're

unjust

people

we break

God's law

in our

thoughts

in our

words

in our

actions

and because

of this

God's

justice

it needs

to be

satisfied

we're

unjust

God is

just

his

justice

has to

be

satisfied

in the

same way

that if

someone

commits a

crime

we expect

to see

justice

and if

we don't

see

justice

we're

not

happy

we expect

to see

someone

being dealt

with

accordingly

now as

we've

already

said

our

sins

have

left

all of

us

with

that

which

needs

to be

dealt

with

accordingly

the

wages

of

sin

is

death

and

that's

where

Jesus

Christ

comes

in

because

Christ

died

did he

not

as a

substitute

a

just

man

dying

for

unjust

people

so we

are

justified

in

Christ

we are

safe

we are

secure

in

Christ

and

because

we are

safe

and

secure

in

Christ

because

we're

justified

in

Christ

we can

never

face

the

wrath

of

God

isn't

that

wonderful

that

no

matter

what

happens

if

we

are

in

Christ

we

cannot

face

his

wrath

his

curse

that's

a

thought

a

thought

that

ought

to

lead

us

to

praise

and

worship

all

the

more

reminds

me

of a

story

I

read

about

a

man

in

a

church

in

Germany

it was

in

the

city

of

Worden

and

there's

a

church

there

with a

lamb

that's

carved

out of

stone

and

placed

on

its

roof

now

it's

said

that

when

this

church

was

being

built

a

stone

carving

mason

he was

working

really

high

up

on

the

scaffolding

when

he

fell

he fell

a

great

height

a

height

at

which

you

could

never

hope

to

survive

and

so

his

colleagues

went

down

his

workmates

went

down

expecting

to

find

the

man

dead

on

the

ground

but

no

there

he

was

alive

with

minor

injuries

how on

earth

you might

ask

did he

survive

providentially

and this

is true

providentially

a flock

of sheep

just

happened

to be

passing

beneath

the tower

at that

very

time

and what

happened

he

landed

on top

of a

lamb

he

landed

on top

of a

lamb

the

lamb

broke

his

fall

and was

of course

crushed

to death

but the

man was

saved

that is

of course

a

poor

picture

of

what

justification

is

but yet

it's

a

picture

the

just

dying

for

the

unjust

the

lamb

of

God

protecting

us

from

eternal

death

taking

to himself

that

death

himself

being

crushed

so we're

justified

through the

blood

but that's

not all

because we're

also

redeemed

Job

famously

said

I know

that my

redeemer

lives

and you know

Christ is called

many things in

scripture but

isn't it so

that the term

redeemer

it paints

such a

beautiful

picture

because what

we have here

is that

idea of

being

in bondage

being

enslaved

what are we

in bondage

to

we are of

course by

nature

in bondage

to and

enslaved

by sin

this was

language that

those in

Peter's day

were familiar

with

half the

world

were bought

and sold

into

slavery

they were

held in

bondage

as a

slave

or a

captive

only until

someone

would come

and buy

them back

with silver

and with

gold

that's what

the word

redeem

means

we see in

Isaiah 43

but now

thus says

the Lord

he who

created you

O

Jacob

he who

formed you

O

Israel

fear not

for I

have

redeemed

you

I've