Billy Argiropoulos' sermon titled "The Speaking Blood" centers on the theological doctrine of Christ’s blood as a means of atonement and mediation. The preacher elaborates on seven key points that illustrate how the blood of Christ speaks better things than Abel's blood, highlighting God’s eternal purpose, particular redemption, satisfaction of divine justice, complete redemption, and the role of Christ as mediator and advocate. He references Scripture such as Genesis 4 and Hebrews 12:24, emphasizing the transformative power of Christ’s blood, which contrasts with the call for vengeance represented by Abel's blood. The sermon underscores the doctrinal significance of Christ’s atoning work, affirming the Reformed emphasis on God's sovereignty in salvation, ensuring believers of their secure standing before God through Christ's finished work.
Key Quotes
“The blood of Christ speaks of God's eternal purpose. [...] The blood speaking better things than that of Abel began before the foundation of the world.”
“The blood of Christ speaks of satisfaction. [...] One sin, just one sin, and God can send you to hell for one sin.”
“It speaks of complete redemption. [...] You can't add anything to something that's finished.”
“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died.”
The Bible teaches that the blood of Christ speaks better things than the blood of Abel, representing God's eternal purpose and redemption.
The blood of Christ signifies God's eternal purpose and the basis of our redemption. It points to God's decision to save a people for Himself before the foundation of the world, demonstrating that our salvation is rooted in His divine will and plan. In Hebrews 12:24, it is stated that the blood of Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, speaks better things than Abel’s blood, which symbolizes guilt and retribution. Instead, Christ's blood speaks of reconciliation, grace, and forgiveness, ensuring that believers have a perfect standing before God through His sacrifice.
Hebrews 12:24, 1 Peter 1:18-20, Ephesians 1:4
Particular redemption is affirmed by Scripture, highlighting that Christ died specifically for His elect, chosen before the foundation of the world.
Particular redemption, the belief that Christ's atonement was specifically for the elect, is supported by various biblical passages. For instance, in John 17, during Christ's high priestly prayer, He mentions those the Father has given Him. Similarly, Ephesians 5:25 states that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, indicating that the intended recipients of His sacrificial death were a distinct group—His elect. Moreover, passages like Romans 8 expound on the idea that those whom God foreknew, He also predestined and justified, suggesting a direct link between God's choosing and Christ's redemptive work.
John 17, Ephesians 5:25, Romans 8
A mediator is essential for Christians because it is through Christ that we can approach God satisfactorily, bridging the gap caused by sin.
The role of a mediator is crucial in the Christian faith, as it emphasizes the need for an intercessor who can reconcile humanity with God. According to 1 Timothy 2:5, there is one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus. This mediator not only represents us before the Father but also presents His completed work of atonement on our behalf. Without a mediator, our sinful nature would make it impossible to have a relationship with a holy God. Through Christ, who understands our struggles and intercedes for us, we find the assurance of access to God's grace, mercy, and love.
1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25
The blood of Christ speaks of grace and redemption, contrasting Abel's blood, which cried out for vengeance and guilt.
In Hebrews 12:24, the writer contrasts the blood of Abel with the blood of Christ, illustrating that while Abel's blood symbolized guilt and demanded justice, Christ's blood embodies grace, forgiveness, and redemption. This distinction underscores the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. Rather than condemning us due to our sin, Christ's shed blood ensures our justification and acceptance before God. It articulates God's eternal purpose to save a people who would otherwise be lost, showcasing Christ's role in securing not just a pardon for sins, but also a relationship with God, something that Abel's sacrifice could not achieve.
Hebrews 12:24
The blood of Christ secures complete redemption, meaning believers are fully justified and sanctified through His sacrifice.
The notion of complete redemption through the blood of Christ is a foundational tenet of the sovereign grace perspective. Hebrews 10:14 states that Christ has perfected forever those who are sanctified, indicating that His atoning sacrifice is sufficient for all our sins—past, present, and future. This means that justification is not a process but a completed act; when God sees us, He sees us as perfect in His sight because we are covered by the blood of Christ. The richness of God's grace allows for no additions to what Christ has done, affirming that we are made complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10), fully redeemed without any further condemnation or guilt.
Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 2:9-10
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