If you would open your Bibles
to the book of First Peter. First Peter. And in my few minutes tonight,
I want to talk about the other half of the Lord's table. And
I want to ask and answer three questions about the blood. The
first of which, whose blood is it? The second is what does the
blood do? And third, who is the blood for? Now, looking at this first question,
whose blood is it? It seems to be a very simple
question and an answer that many of the young people in here could
probably answer that it's the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But just because this question is simple and easy to answer
doesn't mean that we don't need to be reminded of the answer.
If you look in First Peter, chapter one, verse 18. For as much as you know that
you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from
your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. Now, in this verse. It shows
that we're not redeemed by corruptible things, specifically stating
money, but referring to anything that's made or obtained with
our hands. And then it also says from our vain conversation or
by tradition. So what we say and what we do
as far as our traditions have no bearing. But if we look at
verse 19 and continue with the same thought. That we're not
redeemed with these other things, but we are redeemed with the
precious blood of Christ. As of a lamb without blemish
and without spot. This verse not only tells us
whose blood, but it also tells us why the blood of Christ and
it starts with one simple word because it's precious. The blood
of Christ is precious. And then it says that the blood
is without blemish and without spot. The only person to live
on this earth without ever committing a sin. And then we can look at
verse 20 and it tells us that it's always been his blood. Who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
there's never been a time where Christ's blood was not sufficient. It's always been there and it's
always been sufficient. And then if we look at the second
part of that verse, but was manifest in these last times for you.
Now, something comforting about that part is it doesn't matter
if we see, we know, or we're aware of God's providence, but
it always is there. But in this verse, it says that
it's made manifest in these times for you. Isn't it wonderful for
the believer to have the opportunity where our Lord opens our eyes
to his providence. And he does that for us in times
when we need it. Now, there are four things that
makes the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the only acceptable sacrifice. First, Christ's blood is human
blood, only it's not been tainted with sin. Second, Christ's blood
is the blood of the one who is God as well as man and was freely
shed in the stead of his people. Third, Christ's blood is precious
for a priceless purchase, and it's precious to both the father
and to the believer. And fourthly, Christ's blood
is a sufficient price for our redemption because of who He
is. Now, turn with me to Hebrews
9. Hebrews 9. And the next question
we face is, what does the blood do? In Hebrews 9, let's look
at verse 12. Neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the
blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling
the unclean sanctify the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall
the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself
without spot to God. But how much more shall the blood
of Christ purge your conscious from dead works to serve the
living God? For centuries, the high priest
had gone within the veil, carrying the blood of goats and calves. And he did this to make a sacrifice
for the people. He did this repetitively. Constantly,
because the blood he was carrying was not sufficient for sin. It did not have the power to
save, but when the Lord Jesus Christ offered his blood on the
cross, he made a once for all atonement. Through this one offering,
he perfected all believers and obtained eternal redemption.
And it is called an eternal redemption because it extends to the saints
in all ages. It goes backwards and forwards,
and not one soul under this flood shall ever perish. Now, let's
look at Ephesians chapter two. Ephesians chapter two. Ephesians two, let's look at
verse twelve. that at that time you were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God
in the world. Now, verse 12 gives us a list
of things that men don't have. It starts and says we are without
Christ. It says we are aliens from Israel. We are strangers from the covenants
of promise or the covenant of grace. It says we have no hope. And it says we don't know God,
we are without God. Now, thankfully, verse 13 follows
right after this and says, but now in Christ Jesus, you who
sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
The only thing we need to have all these things in verse 12
is the blood of Christ. With the blood of Christ, we
are found in Christ. With the blood of Christ, we
are a part of Israel. With the blood of Christ, we
receive this covenant of grace. With the blood of Christ, we
have a sure and living hope. And with the blood of Christ,
we are sons of God. Now, the last part of verse 13
says, by the blood of Christ, we are made nigh. Now, nigh means
close or near. And I found a very short little
poem that I stumbled upon that states our nearness. Near, so
near to God, nearer I cannot be. For in the person of his
Son, I am as near as he." Now, another definition for this word,
nigh, can also be the word approaching. So if we read this again, verse
13 says, But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off
are made to approach by the blood of Christ. Now reading it that
way, there are two things that stick out. The first of which
is, The only way that we can approach. God is with the blood
or in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must be found in him
coming any other way will lead to eternal condemnation. And
the second thing is that word before nine, we are made to approach. This is not a decision we make.
Without the Spirit of God, we would not and could not have
confidence and faith in the blood of Christ. Our nature hates to
be forced to do anything. But thank God it's not left up
to us. Now, the third question, who
is the blood of Christ for? When answering this question,
it's important to note that it is a specific number. It is a
specific number of people. This is not an open invitation
to those who deserve it. It's not for those who want to
buy it. And it's not for those who think
they can earn it. There is an exact number that
was determined before the foundation of the earth, and this specific
group of people was determined by one thing, by what God deemed
best. And it's also important to know
That the people who have been chosen did not do anything to
deserve to be chosen. Everyone who is saved is a sinner
and undeserving of the grace and mercy of our Lord. And after
all that, you might say, but we still don't know who. Well,
let's see what the scriptures say in turning to Romans chapter
three. Romans, chapter three, and we'll
start in verse twenty one. But now the righteousness of
God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets. Even the righteousness of God,
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe, but there is no difference For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has
set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to
declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are
passed through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say, at
this time His righteousness. that he might be just and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Now, twice in this
passage, it tells us the righteousness of God is to them that believe. In verse 22 and 26, it's very
plain in saying that. In verse 22, even the righteousness
of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ upon all and upon
all them that believe. It's very simple. It's just believing. Now, as we grow in the gospel,
all believers know that in this flesh and in our sin, we cannot
believe. But we have to be called according
to his purpose. We have to have our eyes open
before we can believe. And many see the truth as harsh
or unfair. But there's a simple answer for
that. Those people don't know who the truth is. The truth is
impossible for us to believe in our sin because it goes against
every part of our sinful nature. The Holy Spirit has to do a work
in us, give us a new nature before we can see the truth. And after
this work is done, while we still live in these bodies, we struggle
with our sin. It's a constant trial for believers.
to fight their sin. And we will lose this battle
if we are found anywhere but under the blood of Jesus. But,
once chosen, you can never fall away. Look at Romans 8. We're
just a couple pages away. Romans 8 and verse 38. And this
passage is for those of us who know that we're liable to ruin
something. If we're involved in it, we have
a tendency to somehow find our way to make things not work.
But it says, for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus, our Lord. That covers everything. There's
nothing else that you can find that covers everything. Now. Turn with me to John, chapter
six. John, chapter six. And we'll
look at verse 53, John 6, 53. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth
my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed,
and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh
my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father
hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me,
even he shall live by me." Now, I read somewhere it's not just
eating that nourishes a man, but it's eating the right food.
If a man eats poison, he will die. It is it is the same way
spiritually. His flesh is true life giving
meat and his blood is saving, cleansing blood. A man is not
saved because he believes something or someone, but it is the Christ
of the scripture, the Christ of God, who alone can save. Now, it is a must. that we see
the Lord's table as it's meant to be seen. This wine and this
bread are not the literal blood and body of Christ. They're just
a picture of our belief and faith through the spirit of God that
Christ has come in the flesh, that his flesh is given for the
life of his people and his blood is shed for their sins. Now,
young people listen to this. It can be difficult to know when
or if you should participate in the Lord's table. I struggled
with this for years. And it's not something it's not
a decision that you should take lightly, there's nothing wrong
with struggling with it. But there's no part in what we
do in the Lord's table that has any piece of your salvation in
it. A child of God wants to eat this
bread and drink this wine to glory in the blessings of grace
obtained by the Lord Jesus Christ and to feed on him will allow
you to grow in grace. And in the knowledge of him and
by doing this tonight, we remember or we remind ourselves that we
should be feeding daily on the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Now, you eat this bread and drink this wine because you
believe when Christ's body was broken and His blood was shed
and He died on the cross and rose again, that all the sins
of His people had been atoned for. That when He said, it is
finished, that's what it meant. There was nothing else left.
And now, you don't drink this wine and eat this bread because
you're looking for something. You drink this wine and eat this
bread because you have been shown something. And you will know
when your eyes have been opened and when that day comes, you
will fellowship in the person that the Lord's table represents.
So whose blood is it? It's the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the only person willing and able to put away our sin. What does the blood do? If we're
found in Christ's blood, we're found in Christ. We are part
of the elect. We receive the covenant of grace.
We have a sure and living hope. And we are sons of God. And who
is the blood for? The blood of Christ. is for those
who believe with all their hearts that the Lord Jesus Christ is
the Son of God.