1 Peter 1:17-21 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work… The precious blood of Christ is useful to God's people in a thousand ways. After all, the real preciousness of a thing in the time of trial, must depend upon its usefulness. You have heard the story of the man in the desert, who stumbled, when near to die, upon a bag, and opened it, hoping that it might be the wallet of some passerby, and he found in it nothing but pearls! If they had been crusts of bread, how much more precious would they have been! This may not be according to political economy, but it is according to common sense. I. The precious blood of Christ has a REDEEMING POWER. It redeems from the law. Our law is fulfilled, for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. II. The value of the blood lies much in its ATONING EFFICACY. We are told in Leviticus, that "it is the blood which maketh an atonement for the soul." God never forgave sin apart from blood under the law. Christ, therefore, came and was punished in the place and stead of all His people. There is none other plan by which sinners can be made at one with God, except by Jesus' precious blood. III. The precious blood of Jesus Christ has A CLEANSING POWER (1 John 1:7). IV. A fourth property of the blood of Christ is ITS PRESERVING POWER. Did not God see the blood before you and I saw it, and was not that the reason why He spared our forfeited lives when, like barren fig trees, we brought forth no fruit for Him? "When I see the blood I will pass over you." V. The blood of Christ is precious because of its PLEADING PREVALENCE (Hebrews 12:24). When I cannot pray as I would, how sweet to remember that the blood prays! VI. Christ's blood is precious because of its MELTING INFLUENCE on the human heart. Come for repentance, if you cannot come repenting. VII. The same blood that melts has A GRACIOUS POWER TO PACIFY. VIII. ITS SANCTIFYING INFLUENCE (Hebrews 9:14). IX. ITS POWER TO GIVE ENTRANCE. I am persuaded some of us do not come near to God, because we forget the blood. If you try to have fellowship with God in your graces, your experiences, your believings, you will fail; but if you try to come near to God as you stand in Christ Jesus, you will have courage to come; and on the other hand, God will run to meet you when He sees you in the face of His anointed. X. ITS CONFIRMING POWER. The promises are yea and amen, for no other reason than this, because Christ Jesus died and rose again. XI. ITS INVIGORATING POWER. "My blood is drink indeed." Oh, whenever your spirit faints, this wine shall comfort you; when your griefs are many, drink and forget your misery. O precious blood, how many are thy uses! May I prove them all! XII. The blood has AN OVERCOMING POWER. It is written in the Revelation, "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb." How could they do otherwise? (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: |
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