That's one of my favorite hymns, and I think many of you probably agree with that. It was written by a man named William Cowper. Some people say his name's supposed to be pronounced Cooper, but we don't call cows coos, so I say it's William Cowper. But I'm not sure, it doesn't matter. What I've read of Mr. Cowper, he seems to have been a true believer. And of course that hymn concerning the blood of Christ and the power of the blood, we've got several hymns that speak of the power of the blood. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. There's power in the blood.

One of my favorites, talking about salvation, redemption, the ransom paid by the death of Christ. I've heard a story, but sometimes I get these stories that I hear a little mixed up as to the time and who and all that, but I think it was Mr. Cowper that one of his friends, who was not a believer, in Christ, or the gospel, criticized Mr. Cowper's religion, saying, yours is a bloody religion. And when you consider in the Bible the amount of animal blood in the Old Testament that was shed throughout Jewish altars, and then the importance, the central message of the blood of Jesus Christ. I read that in 1 John 1.

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. The Bible says by one offering, the offering of himself, he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. And when you consider, the Bible tells us that without the shedding of blood, There is no remission of sin. There's no forgiveness. There's no cleansing. The reason is, is because the ultimate just and righteous penalty for sin is death. That's what that blood represents. The death. When the blood is shed unto death. And that's what Christ did. Now that's why he had to have a human body. Those who deny his humanity, they don't know the truth. They don't know the gospel. They don't know about redemption. They don't know about righteousness and justice.

Christ did not come into this world just as an example. Although he is an example, he's the supreme example. If you want to know the supreme example of love and obedience, kindness, look to Christ. But he didn't come into the world just to be an example. He came into the world to save his people from their sins.

And how did he do that? As the surety, the substitute, the redeemer, the lamb. What did they do to lambs back under the old covenant? They killed them, shed their blood, caught their blood in a basin, took it to the priest, You know, the high priest once a year on the day of Atonement would take it into the holiest of all and sprinkle it on the mercy seat above the ark. And all of that was a lesson. It was a picture of the coming of the Son of God, the Messiah, the appointed one, the anointed one, the God-man into the world to give himself a ransom for his people.

Well, if you'll turn in your Bibles to the book of Zechariah, I'll give you a little time. But it's the second to the last book of the Old Testament. Two books back from Matthew. Zechariah. Zechariah was a prophet. He received his prophecy through dreams. And boy, there's some great dreams here. You know, when people tell you about their dreams, you probably want to get away from them. But when Zachariah tells you about his dreams, you don't want to get away from them.

He's got one beautiful dream back in Zachariah, what is it, chapter three or four, about Joshua, the high priest of Israel that day, standing before the angel of the Lord in filthy rags. And the advocate comes along and says, take those filthy rags off of him and put him on a a robe of righteousness. What a picture of Christ and justification by him. Well, it is said that Calper, when he wrote that song, there is a fountain filled with blood. This was the scripture that he was reading, Zechariah 13. And Zechariah, in this dream, this particular dream, he is talking about a great, miraculous, positive future for the people of God.

Now, some people look at this as describing the future of physical Israel, but that's not it. At this time, physical Israel had been in captivity. They're getting ready to get out, go back to their homeland. They never did really rule their homeland after that. It was always under foreign occupation. And it remained so all through the time, even up to now, until the state of Israel was established back in the 40s, 1940s.

But what's going on over there now, and I prayed for our soldiers and the Israeli soldiers and all of that, because I think they're in a just cause, earthly speaking, but it's not gospel-oriented at all. But I do pray for them and that they'll win this battle, this war.

But it's not what Zechariah is speaking of because the people of God to whom Zechariah is speaking is God's people made up both of Jews and Gentiles. Now let me show you that, go back one verse from chapter 13 verse 1 and it says in verse 14 of chapter 12, all the families that remain every family apart and their wives apart, talking about all the families of the earth, all the families of Israel, all the families of the Gentiles, who make up what is known as God's elect.

You remember God promised this to Abraham. He said all the families of the earth will be blessed through you. Not just one family. Now it was through the sons of Abraham, the Jewish people, that God worked his providential will in bringing the Messiah into the world. But the Messiah was for God's elect, God's chosen Jew and Gentile. And that was established.

And so he begins in chapter 13, verse one. He says, in that day, there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. and for sin and for uncleanness and that fountain is the fountain of the blood of Christ. That's what he's speaking of. He's talking about the day of Christ. He's prophesying of the future day of the gospel being fulfilled in time. The gospel was already in effect. You know what the first proclamation of the gospel is?

It was in Genesis 3.15 when God pronounced the coming of the seed of woman.

And in Genesis 3.21 when he slew animals, which I believe were lambs, and made coats of skin. And that was the gospel in proclamation, the gospel in type.

So he says, there is a fountain. Fountain of the blood of Christ, filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins. Now who's Emmanuel? That's Christ. His name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. His name shall be called Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

The Word made flesh dwelling among us. in the book of Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 17, it says this, he had to be made like unto his brethren, all right? It behooved him, it says, for him to be made like unto his brethren. Who are his brethren? his people given to him by the father before the world began whose names were written in the lamb's book of life he calls them his brethren and he had to be made like unto his brethren because their debt was charged to him and that's what got me on this message he had to be their surety I've got in your bulletin an article that I wrote Do you know what a surety is? Do you? Well, if you've done any business with a bank or borrowed money, you know what a surety is.

And it was written in response to a man who wrote an article claiming that Christ was not made sin by imputation, but by some other mysterious way. Well, look at that verse with me, Hebrews chapter two, and mark this because this is This is ammunition against those who attack the truth. In Hebrews chapter two, look at verse 14. Hebrews 2, 14. And it's talking about the coming of Christ to put away our sins by the sacrifice of himself. And it says in verse 14, for as much then as the children, who are the children, that's the elect of God. The children are partakers of flesh and blood.

He also himself likewise took part of the same, that is God manifest in the flesh, Emmanuel, that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil. The devil brought in sin and brought about the fall of man. And his power of death is not that he can kill you or make you alive, he don't have that power, but he can accuse you of the sins that you've committed that deserve death. That's his only power of death.

Remember when he come before God and said, look at Job, he's a sinner. And God defended Job, not because Job was such a good guy, but because he was a sinner saved by grace. And so he says in verse 15, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. That fear of death is a bondage if it stirs you up to try to work your way into salvation and eternal life. That's what the bondage is. And it says, for verily, he took not on him the nature of angels. He didn't come to save angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. And look at verse 17.

Now here's the, wherefore in all things, it behooved him. Now that word behooved is the Greek word for debt. In all things, he was indebted. To do what? To be made like unto his brethren. become flesh and blood, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." And what did he have to do to pay that debt? He had to die, he had to shed his blood. That fountain back in Zechariah 13 now, that fountain had to be opened, Emmanuel's veins. that sinners plunge beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains." You see it?

And what he's saying here, he says in verse 2 of Zechariah 13, and it shall come to pass in that day saith the Lord of hosts, the term Lord of hosts means a Lord, the Lord who is invincible, it's the Lord of a great army that cannot be defeated. He says, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, even the land of Israel, they had idols too. And they shall no more be remembered. And also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to pass out of the land. That's evil prophets.

And what he's gonna do, that fountain's gonna be open in time, in the fullness of the time, God sent forth his son. God always operated, his understanding and light and purpose to open that fountain. He saved his chosen people in the Old Testament based upon what Christ would come and do in that day. In other words, the gospel that Abel believed is the same gospel that you believe if you're a believer. Abel recognized he was a sinner. How do you know that preacher?

Because he brought the blood of a lamb. He knew that without the shedding of blood there was no remission. And he didn't get up on like the heathen and cut himself and shed his own blood because he knew that his blood wouldn't do the job. It has to be the blood of the God man. Has to be the blood of Christ. And so he brought the blood.

Abel believed that he had no hope but the promised Messiah who would die for his sins and establish a perfect righteousness which God had already imputed to Abel even before it was brought in in time. That's the God we worship. Cain didn't believe it. How do you know?

Because he brought the works of his hands. Salvation is not by works. This fountain open is a fountain of grace. This fountain open is a fountain of mercy. Grace and mercy cannot be deserved or earned. If you work for it and receive it as the result of your work, it's not grace, it's not mercy. It's what God owes you. But God's not indebted to us. he's indebted to himself.

And it'll come to pass. As a result of this fountain open, you know what's gonna happen? People are gonna be saved. People are gonna be saved and brought to Christ by God-given faith, and they're gonna repent by God-given repentance. This fountain open, is one that is easily accessible and free to all who want it. Anybody who wants to wash in this fountain can have it, but there's a problem. Man by nature doesn't want it. If left to yourself, you won't want it.

When God the Lord pours out His blood, He says, come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I'll give you rest. When God the Lord pours it out on his people, they become heavy laden like Abel, like Daniel, like sinners convicted of sin and know they have no hope but the work of the Son of God.

And it says here, they shall mourn The Bible says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for there they'll be comforted. Mourn over what? Mourn over our sin. And the comfort is, is the forgiveness of sin by the grace of God, which reigns through righteousness in Christ, covered by His blood. That's what the gospel preachers told to do. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

Not only has she received full forgiveness, but she's justified, she's righteous in God's sight, based upon this fountain opened. Nothing added, nothing taken away. that morning that he's talking about is the morning of the fruit of the fountain and the work of God pouring out in the preaching of the gospel and the power of the Spirit.

God doesn't say, now listen to this, God does not say I'll save my people someday if they'll just let me. He doesn't say that, that's not in the Bible. He doesn't say but they must exercise their free will in order to to get this process to work. This prophecy is not based on God foreseeing what will happen, but on His mighty power to cause it to happen, to bring it to pass. He's not saying, finally, after all these years, there's a people among the Jews who will cooperate with me and do what I want them to do. I've always wanted to save them, but they just won't allow me to do it. but now here's a group that's just not so stubborn. That's not what God says in his word. You know, that's really how many today view salvation, but it's not what the Bible teaches.

Salvation is of the Lord from start to finish, and it's through the work of Christ 100%. And it's true that we as sinners, we must We must trust in Christ. We must repent of our sins. We must call upon the Lord. We must seek the Lord. But neither saving faith nor repentance originates from the fallen human heart.

They're gifts of God's grace. They're His pouring out, His Spirit convicting. So all of this is the work of God. What does Ephesians 2 and verse 10 say? It says, we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto, not because of, but unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. All of it. Look at verse three.

And it shall come to pass that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord. And his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesied." Boy, that's strange, isn't it? He says in verse four, and it shall come to pass in that day that the prophet shall be ashamed every one of his vision when he hath prophesied, neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive.

The rough garment is indicative of God's prophets. You know, back in that day, the false prophets of unbelief They wore elaborate, expensive gowns and garb, jewels. But old Isaiah over there, he had a pair of jeans. Old Jeremiah, they were dressed in rough garb.

They didn't dress like a prophet to the people. here's what he's saying in that day when you preach the truth people are going to come against you even those of your own household remember it says in john chapter one verse eleven that he came into his own and his own received him not a lot of commentators say that's his own nation and it included his own nation christ was not well received his message. Now he was for a time well-received for the miracles, the loaves and the fishes, the healings, but even they turned against him eventually because he didn't line up with the religious majority, the moral majority. The Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, the Zealots, they stirred up the people to turn against him And those who cried Hosanna when He came into Jerusalem just a few days later cried crucify. That's the natural man. That's us by nature. A false message The message of the scribes, the Pharisees, false preachers, false Christianity makes men and women feel good about themselves, but it leads to eternal death.

The true gospel stabs to the heart and it's one of two reactions. Listen to this, this is Acts 2. Verse 37, after Peter preached the gospel at Pentecost. It says, now when they heard this, they were pricked in the heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? That's a good response. That's the Holy Spirit's work. bringing sinners to the point that they have no place else to go, and so they cry, what shall we do? How can we be saved?

And Peter told them, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Here's Acts chapter five and verse 33. I think it was Peter that preached it here, but he and John and others. It says, when they heard that gospel, they were cut to the heart and took counsel to kill them.

We got to get rid of these guys. They just told everybody that our deeds are evil, but we're the moral majority. We worship God, we lead the people, we pray, we read the scriptures, we write the commentaries. They just told all these people that. We're false prophets. I'll give you one more. This is Stephen. Remember Stephen preaching the gospel in Acts 7?

It says, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth. You ever been gnashed on somebody's teeth? It means they grit their teeth at you. That's what it means. The thing about it is, look at verse five.

But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a husbandman, for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. And one shall say unto him, what are these wounds in thy hands? Then he shall answer, these which I was wounded in the house of my friends. He'll not claim to be the high station of a prophet, but the station of a farmer or a cattleman. Not one to whom you would go to to seek for answers, they'll avoid it. And he says, between thy hands, referring to the chest and the heart, they'll be wounded.

God's people are people of light, people of the truth, God's preachers. And their message is, praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God, for it is pleasant, and praise is comely. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem, that spiritual Jerusalem, heavenly Jerusalem. He gathereth together the outcast of Israel.

He healeth the broken heart. He binds up their wounds. Our Savior is that fountain. He's the great physician who heals all wounds because he was wounded for our transgressions. He's the Lord our righteousness. He's our Redeemer. And that's what Zechariah the prophet's doing. He's pointing the people to a better hope than they ever had in the law of Moses. In the temple, the physical temple.

Because there was no salvation in those. The law can show you what righteousness is, but it cannot make you righteous. It can only condemn you. So where do we find the fountain that we need, the blood, the water of life? Where do we find the righteousness that we need? Look to that fountain open. In that day, the day of Christ, the day of God's Son incarnate. All right.