FROM THE PREACHER"S LENSES

Saturday, April 20, 2019
[email protected]
Lagos, Nigeria
BLOOD IN RELATION TO FORGIVENESS OF SIN

uring this season, we remember the coming of God to the earth in human flesh. He came with the name Jesus.

His spilled blood cleansed all our sins, re-uniting us with Himself after our sins have separated us from Him.

We are during this season celebrating His resurrection from the dead after 3 days. His resurrection alone provides us with the hope and assurance that, though this our dying body will one day return to dust but because we believe in Him, we shall rise unto life eternal in heaven on the day of judgement.

So I am speaking today on the subject "Blood in relation to forgiveness of Sin"

Let us pray.

The first parents were Adam and Eve. We have no record that they made any sacrifice to God. It is possible they did but we have no record.

We however have on record that the first children, Cain and Abel did. Cain made a sacrifice of farm produce because he was a farmer, while Abel, being a herdsman made a sacrifice of blood.

God rejected Cain's sacrifice but accepted Abel's.

The next notable sacrifice we have on record was the one made by Abraham, also known as Ibrahim.

God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son to Him. It was to test his faith as it later turned out to be, because God stopped him at the very point when he was to slay the boy. God opened the eyes of Abram to a ram, which horns were locked up in the bush (Gen. 22:13)

Because of this singular act of Abram's complete obedience and trust in God, not holding back his son but was ready to sacrifice him, God blessed Abram and thereby based salvation of mankind on the type of faith of Abraham. So salvation would be by faith. As the Scripture puts it "Abraham believed in God and it was counted unto Him as righteousness" (Rom.4:3)

God promised that Abram was going to be made a father of nations and through his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed (Gen. 22:18).

How this would happen was sealed up for further 1700 years i.e. till God Himself will appear on earth as human in person of Jesus.

People of old continued to make sacrifice to God as a way of appreciation to God or as a plea but particularly for forgiveness of sin.

But it was not yet mandatory, until hundreds of years later when God gave a certain religious sets of rules to Moses at Mount Sinai, which were to be strictly obeyed by His chosen people, the Israelites. This happened about 1450-1400 BC.

The morning and evening sacrifices were mandatory. A lamb was to be sacrificed every morning and every evening. They were referred to as "Burnt Offering"

I am speaking on the subject "Blood in relation to forgiveness of Sin"

No animal, which was to be sacrificed shall have any defect. It should not be blind, disabled or mutilated. It must not have sores or itch or any other skin disease. It must not have injured genitals - crushed or castrated (Lev. 22:21-24). There was little bending of this rule in rare circumstances.

Sacrificial animals were mandatorily males. Acceptable animals for burnt offering were a bull from the herd (Lev. 1:3), a sheep or goat from the flock (Lev. 1:10; Lev. 22:17-20), turtledoves or young pigeons from the birds (Lev. 1:14).

On the Sabbath day, in addition to the daily regular burnt offerings, 2 extra one year old male lambs were sacrificed. (This adds up to 4, one year old male lambs sacrificed on the Sabbath day).

At the sight of the new moon (Num. 28:11-15) (Num. 15:1-16), many more animals were sacrificed; 2 young bulls, One ram, 7, one year-old lambs, one male goat.

The question is "Why the sacrifice; what is the reason?"

The reason simply is that we have all sinned against God and we are separated from God and we deserve both the physical and spiritual death.

Physical death is when we return to dust while spiritual death is eternal separation from God. This is the one everyone must avoid because the place of spiritual separation from God is called "Hell" where there is torment and gnashing of teeth and it is a life with no end.

The requirement of God to avoid hell, which in essence, to have sins forgiven is that blood must be shed as it is written "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin" (Heb.9:22 ).

But why blood and not something else?

The reason is that in order to be spared the death sentence as a result of our sins, another life must be killed and the blood of the killed one (animal) was supposed to be a substitute for the death of the guilty person who brought the sacrifice (Lev. 1:4). That is the way God designs it and He cannot be questioned.

God said "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11) and this is why God prohibits the eating and drinking of blood (vs.12-14).

It was not until 1628 that science came to this knowledge that the life of any creature is in its blood, through William Harvey (1 April 1578 - 3 June 1657), the British physician who was the first to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood, a fact available in the Bible since 1400 BC; meaning that the Bible is 1228yrs ahead of science.

So the blood of the burnt sacrifice is generally for atonement of sin.

The procedure of the sacrifice in brief is as follows. The person bringing it, would lay his hands upon its head at the entrance of the Tabernacle and kill it there and the blood of the killed one (animal) was supposed to be a substitute for the death of the guilty person who brought the sacrifice (Lev. 1:4).

Atonement of sin with animal blood was to last for only a period until as earlier said, until that which was sealed up was unsealed, until the seed of Abraham, through whom the whole earth will be blessed is revealed, to confirm God's plan of salvation for man; which is by faith rather than any religious obligation.

1700 years after God announced His plan of salvation with the type of faith of Abram and 600 years after animal sacrifice was instituted, the perfect sacrifice was made. Jesus, who is God in the flesh was slayed for the atonement of man's sin.

Other than the daily i.e. morning and evening spilling of blood usually referred to as morning and evening sacrifice and the Sabbath and sight of the moon sacrifices, there were seven other annual feasts involving the sacrifice of different kinds of animals and birds.

A forerunner or mimic of the method and procedure representing Christ to effect our pardon and escape eternal destruction was first staged in Egypt about 1450BC.

The children of Israel had migrated to Egypt due to severe famine that ravaged the region and which extended to their country. The Pharaoh at the time received and accommodated them nicely but over the years, subsequent Pharaoh maltreated them and turned them to be slaves. With time, God had compassion for His people and decided to have them return to their land but the reigning Pharaoh, king of Egypt would not let them until the angel of death killed the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals of the Egyptians but spared any house, which has its lintel smeared with blood of the lamb. God has asked each household to kill a blameless male lamb and smear the doorpost of the house with the blood of the lamb. God allowed two small neighbouring houses to share a lamb. No bone of the lamb was to be broken. God promised "When I see the blood I will pass over you" (Ex. 12 13). The night, which this story occurred is referred to in History as "Passover"

Precisely this is what the blood of Jesus does to anyone who believes in Him. Anyone marked with the blood of Jesus is saved from condemnation and eternal doom.

The Lord commanded the house of Israel to observe 1st April of every year as a remembrance of this event and it is called the feast of Passover (Ex. 12: 42; Numb 28:16).

It was not a coincidence that Jesus was crucified (sacrificed) on a Passover date) (St John 19:31-36) and not one of His bone was broken just as it must be with the Passover sacrifice.

And just as the Passover sacrifice must be without a defect, so Jesus was; the only person who ever lived without committing any sin.

I am preaching on the subject "Blood in relation to forgiveness of Sin"

The Passover, which Jesus re-enacted by making Himself the Passover lamb is what Christians refer to, today as "Easter"

They were all God's plan that Jesus met or fulfill all the requirements of the law and that was why He declared that He has not come to cancel the law but to fulfill it.

Another mimic or forerunner of what Jesus was to do, is seen on another date of the Jewish calendar "The Day of Atonement" which came up every 25 Sep (Lev. 16; Lev. 23:26-32; Num. 29:11).

This was the only day in the year when Aaron or whoever ascended to the position of High Priest could enter "The Most Holy Place" i.e inside the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem. If the High Priest entered at any other time, the penalty was death.

For the atonement of the sins of the congregation, 2 male goats were required for the sin offering and a ram for the burnt offering. The High Priest shall bring one of the live goats, lay both hands upon its head, confess over it all the sins of the people of Israel, laying all their sins upon the head of the goat and send it into the desert.

This is why John the Baptist referred to Jesus as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1: 29)

The writer of Hebrews, who is most probably Paul, explained the importance of the blood of Jesus as most effective to wash our sins.

Paul explained that the blood of several animals that were spilled under the law, were just a foretaste, a shadow, a mimic of the real thing that would take away man's sins. They were a dim foretaste of the good things Christ would do for us (Heb. 10:1). "This system of law was to last only until the coming of Christ, the Child to whom God's promise was made"! (Gal. 3:19).

"The sacrifices under the law system were repeated again and again, year after year, but even so, they could never save those who lived under their rules, if they could, one offering would have been enough; the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and their feeling of guilt would be gone. But not so, because "--- it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats really to take away sins" (Heb. 10:1-3).

But because Jesus lives forever, He is able to save completely all who come to God through Him. Since He will live forever, He will always be there to remind God that He has paid for their sins with His blood.

Jesus made two profound statements, which we do not hear in history that any other person ever made: He said "I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11) and that is why He could boldly say "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me" (John 14:6)

If any other person ever made these statements, there would have been some confusion as to who to believe but thanks to God only Jesus said it. So there is no confusion as to who the savior of the world is.

He is therefore, exactly the kind of High Priest we need; for He is holy and blameless, unstained by sin, undefiled by sinners�. He never needs the daily blood of animal sacrifices, as the human priests did, to cover first their own sins and then the sins of the people because they were weak and sinful men who could not keep from doing wrong.

But Christ finished all sacrifices, once and for all, when He sacrificed Himself on the cross because He is perfect forever" (Extract from Heb. 7:18-28).

"Under the system of Jewish Laws, the High Priest brought the blood of the slain animals into the sanctuary as a sacrifice for sin, and then the bodies of the animals were burned outside the city. That is why Jesus suffered and died outside the city where His blood washed our sin" (Heb. 13:11-12; Ex. 29:14).

The Law agreement didn't work. If it did, there would have been no need for another to replace it (Heb. 8:7). Jesus went into that greater, perfect tabernacle in heaven, not made by men nor part of this world and once for all took blood into that inner room, the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat; but it was not the blood of goats and calves. No. He took His own blood and with it He, by Himself made sure of our eternal salvation (Extract Heb. 9:6-11).

These facts cannot be ignored my friend.

Jesus died to rescue whoever will come to Him from the penalty of the sins, which they have committed.

And just as it is destined that men die only once, and after that comes judgement, so also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and He will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time He will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for Him (Extract from Heb. 9:6-28). He will also bring condemnation to those who refuse to have their sins covered by His blood.

"For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment of our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from His wrath" (Rom. 3:25). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made near to Him by the blood of Christ. By His death He ended the angry resentment between us. Now we are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but members of God's own very family; citizens of God's country�.. (Eph. 2:13-19).

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:, 18 and 36).

May God forbid any one from experiencing this wrath because it is a suffering and anguish, which has only a beginning but has no end.

This is a curse placed on anyone who does not have his sins forgiven, who has his/her sins uncovered, who is yet to be made holy by the time he/she exists this world in death, who refuses to avail himself/herself of the grace provided by the blood of Christ to cover his/her sins, who rejects Christ as his God, Lord and Saviour.

While we live, this curse can still be averted and the curse redeemed. But after the physical death, it is irredeemable. It will be too late.

But every person will be the architect of his own fortune. Each person carries the responsibility to make the choice between life and death. The blood of Christ has been spilled to cover all sins except the sin of unbelief.

The jailer of Philippi asked Paul and Silas: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts. 16:30-31). This is good for you right now.

Let us pray

Father thank you for revealing yourself to us. You told the Samaritan woman that the time comes when there will be no obligation for worshipping God i.e. worship will not be particularly at any place or by any pattern, system or by keeping any set of rules for prayers or worship but that God is spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Father, let all those who are listening to me recognize that there is no good deed they can do that can fulfill your requirements of salvation; not their religious zeal except by placing their trust in the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary.

Help them father to come to the Cross where you died so that they can have their sins forgiven and be saved from the agony of hell. Thank you father for hearing me in Jesus Name.

Signing out

My name is Sam Aweda, I am the Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission also known as the Peoples' Church.

It is my prayer that you will today consider your status with God, ask yourself whether you already secure a place for yourself in heaven. Your place in heaven is decided when you are still alive and not after you die.

Call me today on 0810 041 6347 or 0815 735 5048 on how you can reach heaven in spite of all your inadequacies

Our location in Ilorin is near Ganmo on Afon Road on the rt side, directly opposite the Power Transmission Station just before the railway intersection before you reach Ogbondoroko.

I will be happy that you join us for prayers on Thursdays at 5.00pm at the location I just described so that God can take our poverty away in this land.

Our Sunday worship service is at ten in the morning at the same location at Afon Rd.

Do not forget to join me on this same station, same time next week. Invite your friends and relations as well and may God richest blessings abide with you now till we meet again.

Happy Easter

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