"Seven reasons why I believe in the Atoning Blood of Christ." This vital consideration brings us to the fulcrum of the great operation of the Divine Revelation, to the centre of the vast circumference of Divine Redemption and to the very heart of the throbbing purpose of Divine Reconciliation. We come from the shallows of human speculation to the depths of divine revelation when we come to the Blood. We step at this juncture from the shadows of Old Testament typology to the blazing sunshine of New Testament theology. It is here we launch our souls from the shores of man's estimate into the boundless, tideless, endless sea of God's ultimate.
THE GEOMETRICS OF THE GOSPEL
No wonder Paul upon his knees longed that the Ephesian believers might know the geometrics of the gospel, the breadth and length, the depth and height. "To comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height." Eph. 3:18. The breadth suggests the scope of it and it is broader than all sin, for where sin abounded grace did super abound. It is vaster than the broad horizon's rim, for it reaches out to the extremity of the ruling scepter of the Eternal and our Sovereign's writ runs everywhere. The length proclaims the eternity of it and it is far longer than sin. Sin entrenches over the generations and circumscribes their activities but grace spans the two eternities. The depth describes its power. It's potential baffles human definition. Thank God it drowns our guilty burdens in its unfathomable deeps. The height speaks of the glory of it. It over tops the topless steeps of the divine and loses itself in the glory of which and by which it was begotten.
A BLOODSTAINED GOSPEL
Ours is a bloodstained gospel. The Blood of the cross is the center, but it flows in mighty torrent out to the circumference. It is the pivot by which and around which the whole revolves. It is the heart but it throbs its incorruptible crimson life into the whole body.
In the Divine eyes the heavens are blood marked, the earth is blood marked and the elect are blood marked. We bow before a Bloodstained Throne, once a fiery throne of judgment, now by blood a mercy seat. The Church is a Bloodstained Church purchased with the price most precious, 'tis the blood of God's dear Son. Our Bible is a Bloodstained Book. Prick the body of heavenly divinity anywhere and out pours the life tide of Emmanuel. It is a crimson Book. Heaven is a Bloodstained Heaven into which with His own Blood our Redeemer has entered. Our access to God is by a Bloodstained Path, only the Savior's blood marks can guide us to the throne. Our song is a Bloodstained Song, it recounts the emancipating power of Golgotha's blood shedding.
NOT WITHOUT BLOOD
What immensity of truth finds expression in the scripture precept "not without blood." God can pardon but "not without blood." "And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" Hebrews 9:22. Men can be redeemed, but "not without blood," "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7. Heaven can be gained but "not without blood," "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh" Hebrews 10:19, 20. Peace can be enjoyed but "not without blood," "And, having made peace through the blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" Colossians 1:20. Justification can be ours but "not without blood," "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" Romans 5:9. Sanctification can be experienced but "not without blood," "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate" Hebrews 13:12. Glorification can be ours but "not without blood," "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them" Revelation 7:14, 15.
The King's Highway has been blasted out of the Rock of Ages and cemented together by the Blood of the cross, and it is the only way from the City of Destruction to the City that lies foursquare. Men sail to hell on the Dead Sea of sin; but we sail to heaven on the Red sea of the Redeemer's Blood.
THE SATANIC COUNTERFEIT
In all our study of the scriptures we need ever to remember that over against the Sovereign Covenant of God there is the Satanic counterfeit of the "god of this world." For instance, over against the Divine Trinity there stands the satanic trinity, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet; over against the Christ stands the antichrist; over against God's truth stands the devil's lie; over against the Mystery of Godliness, the Incarnate Word of God, stands the mystery of iniquity, the incarnate lie of Satan; over against the Only Gospel stand the other gospels and over against the Scripture of Truth stands the doctrine of devils. Hence in this study we must ever keep in mind that over against and seeking to undermine and thwart the Precious Blood of Christ there stands ever opposing the blasphemy of the cults.
THE BIBLICAL IDEA OF BLOOD
It is essential that we grasp the Biblical idea of Blood in divinely appointed sacrifice. A close study of the scriptures unveils a threefold basic fundamental, the foundation of expiating sacrifice by blood shedding.
1. The Vital Principle - the Blood is the Life
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11. This principle brings out the expiating wealth and eternal value of the Blood of the Lamb. The blood equalled the life and the value of the blood was the value of the life.
Notice the different values of bloods contrasted in the law of the sin-offering in Leviticus chapter four. The priest, a public person, must bring a young bullock, "If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering" verse 3; the whole congregation must bring a young bullock, "When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation" verse 14; a ruler must bring a male kid of the goats, "Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish" verse 23; and a common person must bring a female kid of the goats, "Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned" verse 28. The blood of the female goat was less valuable than the blood of the male goat; and the blood of the male goat was less valuable than the blood of the young bullock. Well can we repeat -
THE GEOMETRICS OF THE GOSPEL
No wonder Paul upon his knees longed that the Ephesian believers might know the geometrics of the gospel, the breadth and length, the depth and height. "To comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height." Eph. 3:18. The breadth suggests the scope of it and it is broader than all sin, for where sin abounded grace did super abound. It is vaster than the broad horizon's rim, for it reaches out to the extremity of the ruling scepter of the Eternal and our Sovereign's writ runs everywhere. The length proclaims the eternity of it and it is far longer than sin. Sin entrenches over the generations and circumscribes their activities but grace spans the two eternities. The depth describes its power. It's potential baffles human definition. Thank God it drowns our guilty burdens in its unfathomable deeps. The height speaks of the glory of it. It over tops the topless steeps of the divine and loses itself in the glory of which and by which it was begotten.
A BLOODSTAINED GOSPEL
Ours is a bloodstained gospel. The Blood of the cross is the center, but it flows in mighty torrent out to the circumference. It is the pivot by which and around which the whole revolves. It is the heart but it throbs its incorruptible crimson life into the whole body.
In the Divine eyes the heavens are blood marked, the earth is blood marked and the elect are blood marked. We bow before a Bloodstained Throne, once a fiery throne of judgment, now by blood a mercy seat. The Church is a Bloodstained Church purchased with the price most precious, 'tis the blood of God's dear Son. Our Bible is a Bloodstained Book. Prick the body of heavenly divinity anywhere and out pours the life tide of Emmanuel. It is a crimson Book. Heaven is a Bloodstained Heaven into which with His own Blood our Redeemer has entered. Our access to God is by a Bloodstained Path, only the Savior's blood marks can guide us to the throne. Our song is a Bloodstained Song, it recounts the emancipating power of Golgotha's blood shedding.
NOT WITHOUT BLOOD
What immensity of truth finds expression in the scripture precept "not without blood." God can pardon but "not without blood." "And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" Hebrews 9:22. Men can be redeemed, but "not without blood," "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7. Heaven can be gained but "not without blood," "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh" Hebrews 10:19, 20. Peace can be enjoyed but "not without blood," "And, having made peace through the blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" Colossians 1:20. Justification can be ours but "not without blood," "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" Romans 5:9. Sanctification can be experienced but "not without blood," "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate" Hebrews 13:12. Glorification can be ours but "not without blood," "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them" Revelation 7:14, 15.
The King's Highway has been blasted out of the Rock of Ages and cemented together by the Blood of the cross, and it is the only way from the City of Destruction to the City that lies foursquare. Men sail to hell on the Dead Sea of sin; but we sail to heaven on the Red sea of the Redeemer's Blood.
THE SATANIC COUNTERFEIT
In all our study of the scriptures we need ever to remember that over against the Sovereign Covenant of God there is the Satanic counterfeit of the "god of this world." For instance, over against the Divine Trinity there stands the satanic trinity, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet; over against the Christ stands the antichrist; over against God's truth stands the devil's lie; over against the Mystery of Godliness, the Incarnate Word of God, stands the mystery of iniquity, the incarnate lie of Satan; over against the Only Gospel stand the other gospels and over against the Scripture of Truth stands the doctrine of devils. Hence in this study we must ever keep in mind that over against and seeking to undermine and thwart the Precious Blood of Christ there stands ever opposing the blasphemy of the cults.
THE BIBLICAL IDEA OF BLOOD
It is essential that we grasp the Biblical idea of Blood in divinely appointed sacrifice. A close study of the scriptures unveils a threefold basic fundamental, the foundation of expiating sacrifice by blood shedding.
1. The Vital Principle - the Blood is the Life
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11. This principle brings out the expiating wealth and eternal value of the Blood of the Lamb. The blood equalled the life and the value of the blood was the value of the life.
Notice the different values of bloods contrasted in the law of the sin-offering in Leviticus chapter four. The priest, a public person, must bring a young bullock, "If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering" verse 3; the whole congregation must bring a young bullock, "When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation" verse 14; a ruler must bring a male kid of the goats, "Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish" verse 23; and a common person must bring a female kid of the goats, "Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned" verse 28. The blood of the female goat was less valuable than the blood of the male goat; and the blood of the male goat was less valuable than the blood of the young bullock. Well can we repeat -
Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away the stain.
But Christ, the heavenly Lamb
Takes all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.
On Jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away the stain.
But Christ, the heavenly Lamb
Takes all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.
At the cross it was not pure humanity shedding blood for depraved humanity, but it was Incarnate deity shedding blood for iniquitous dust. The eternal uncreated life of the Godhead flowed from Emmanuel's veins. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood" Acts 20:28. The life of the flesh is in the blood -- the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The blood equals the life, therefore the Blood of Christ equals the life of the Incarnate Deity. According to Colossians 2:9, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, " and that fulness was emptied out in the crimson of the cross. The blood then is the life-tide of the Godhead.
Note the Vital Principle - the Blood is the Life.
2. The Vicarious Principle - the Blood is the Life Given "I have given it to you upon the altar." Leviticus 17:11. The blood must be shed, the life must be given. The Blood is sacrificial Blood, in the Bible it is always that.
The offering on the cross was a substitution, vicarious "instead of me" sacrifice. It was the blood on the altar, the life given in sacrifice that constituted the expiation. The blood shed was the sacrifice which alone was sin-atoning. The majesty of Calvary's mystery comes into focus in John 10:18. "No man taketh it from me. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." We need to remember that in the Blood there is not only substitution, He loved and gave Himself for me, but restitution, He offered Himself without spot to God. It takes both substitution and restitution to justify the sinner. Both come flowing to us in the blood of the cross.
That massive Puritan theologian John Owen, exclaims:
"To see the mystery of the love of the Father working in the Blood of the mediator, to consider by faith the great transaction of divine wisdom, justice and mercy therein - how few attain unto it! To come unto God by Christ for forgiveness and to behold the law issuing all its threats and curses in His blood and losing its sting, putting an end to its obligation unto punishment, in the cross: to see all sins gathered up in the hands of God's justice and made to meet in the Mediator, and Eternal Love springing forth triumphantly from His Blood, flourishing into pardon, grace, mercy, forgiveness - this the heart of the sinner can be enlarged by the Spirit of God."
Note the Vicarious Principle - the Blood is the Life Given.
3. The Vivifying Principle - the Blood is Life Giving
"It is the Blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11. The law states "the soul that sinneth it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4. Stern justice demands the death of the transgressor but the Blood makes atonement for the sinning soul. By the Blood God is both just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Psalm 85:10 - "Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Where? In a fountain filled with Blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins. The precious Blood is life-giving for it has opened the grave. The Great Shepherd of the sheep was brought again from the dead by the Blood of the everlasting Covenant. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our LORD Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant" Hebrews 13:20. Through the Blood we shout in triumph "Death is swallowed up in Victory."
Thank God the precious, precious Blood has also opened heaven. "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" Hebrews 9:12. Christ entered into heaven with His Own Blood. Notice heaven's ultimate in Hebrews 12:22 and 24, "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels... And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel". Death has no right to the Blood washed soul, but the Blood washed soul has a right to Heaven.
Note the Vivifying Principle - the Blood is Life Giving.
Bearing this three-fold fundamental in mind I come now to the substance of my message. Before proceeding we must emphasize that we refer to the Cross we refer not to the wood of the Cross but to the work of the Cross. The wood corrupted but the work is incorruptible.
Editors' Note: The seven reasons Dr. Paisley gives for the atoning blood of Christ will be covered over the next seven articles. We hope you enjoy this Classical Sermon Series.
Note the Vital Principle - the Blood is the Life.
2. The Vicarious Principle - the Blood is the Life Given "I have given it to you upon the altar." Leviticus 17:11. The blood must be shed, the life must be given. The Blood is sacrificial Blood, in the Bible it is always that.
The offering on the cross was a substitution, vicarious "instead of me" sacrifice. It was the blood on the altar, the life given in sacrifice that constituted the expiation. The blood shed was the sacrifice which alone was sin-atoning. The majesty of Calvary's mystery comes into focus in John 10:18. "No man taketh it from me. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." We need to remember that in the Blood there is not only substitution, He loved and gave Himself for me, but restitution, He offered Himself without spot to God. It takes both substitution and restitution to justify the sinner. Both come flowing to us in the blood of the cross.
That massive Puritan theologian John Owen, exclaims:
"To see the mystery of the love of the Father working in the Blood of the mediator, to consider by faith the great transaction of divine wisdom, justice and mercy therein - how few attain unto it! To come unto God by Christ for forgiveness and to behold the law issuing all its threats and curses in His blood and losing its sting, putting an end to its obligation unto punishment, in the cross: to see all sins gathered up in the hands of God's justice and made to meet in the Mediator, and Eternal Love springing forth triumphantly from His Blood, flourishing into pardon, grace, mercy, forgiveness - this the heart of the sinner can be enlarged by the Spirit of God."
Note the Vicarious Principle - the Blood is the Life Given.
3. The Vivifying Principle - the Blood is Life Giving
"It is the Blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11. The law states "the soul that sinneth it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4. Stern justice demands the death of the transgressor but the Blood makes atonement for the sinning soul. By the Blood God is both just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Psalm 85:10 - "Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Where? In a fountain filled with Blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins. The precious Blood is life-giving for it has opened the grave. The Great Shepherd of the sheep was brought again from the dead by the Blood of the everlasting Covenant. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our LORD Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant" Hebrews 13:20. Through the Blood we shout in triumph "Death is swallowed up in Victory."
Thank God the precious, precious Blood has also opened heaven. "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" Hebrews 9:12. Christ entered into heaven with His Own Blood. Notice heaven's ultimate in Hebrews 12:22 and 24, "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels... And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel". Death has no right to the Blood washed soul, but the Blood washed soul has a right to Heaven.
Note the Vivifying Principle - the Blood is Life Giving.
Bearing this three-fold fundamental in mind I come now to the substance of my message. Before proceeding we must emphasize that we refer to the Cross we refer not to the wood of the Cross but to the work of the Cross. The wood corrupted but the work is incorruptible.
Editors' Note: The seven reasons Dr. Paisley gives for the atoning blood of Christ will be covered over the next seven articles. We hope you enjoy this Classical Sermon Series.
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