Sermon Notes

The Beauty of Christ's Blood

Romans 3:23-25

…the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-24 

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and rink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:25-26

TENSION QUESTION

Why is the blood of Jesus Christ such a big deal?

MY BURDEN

Naivete to the power of the blood has resulted in captivity to the lies of the enemy.  

LIE #1

I am going through something difficult because God is punishing me for my sin.  

LIE #2

The worst thing I’ve done or do is the truest thing about me.  

MY BURDEN

A shallow understanding of the power of the blood of Jesus will limit the depth of our worship.

“Nothing more destroys the faith of the gospel, than by any means to weaken the direct power of the blood of Christ.” - Matthew Henry

ROMANS 3:23-25

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

ROMANS 3:23-25

MESSAGE OUTLINE

 Three Complex Terms

(Propitiation, Redemption, Justification)

 One Compelling Invitation

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

ROMANS 3:23-25

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. JOHN 3:36

“The greatest peril facing every person, in every ethnic group, in every place on earth, and at every time in history, is the righteous wrath of God against guilty sinners, leading to everlasting suffering — unless God himself rescues us from his own judgment.” - John Piper

“Poverty, hunger, disease, war, crime, climate change, addictions, homelessness, ignorance, sex trafficking: these bring great global suffering — and they pale in comparison to the peril of being under the wrath of God. They are all tragic, but they are all temporary. They may last a lifetime, but the wrath of God lasts forever.” - John Piper

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

ROMANS 3:23-25

“It refers to the removal of God’s wrath by providing a substitute. The substitute is provided by God himself. The substitute, Jesus Christ, does not just cancel the wrath; he absorbs it and diverts it from us to himself. God’s wrath is just, and it was spent, not withdrawn.” - John Piper

PROPITIATION

The blood of Jesus, like a sponge, absorbs God’s wrath and leaves God bankrupt of wrath towards people whose faith is in Christ.

IMPLICATION OF PROPITIATION

Less fear of God.

More peace with God.

MESSAGE OUTLINE

Three Complex Terms

(Propitiation, Redemption, Justification)

One Compelling Invitation

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

ROMANS 3:23-25

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” EPHESIANS 1:7

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 PETER 1:18-19 (NIV)

“The believer’s redemption is presented as the fulfillment of a “new exodus” prophesied in the OT. In other words, the redemption Christians receive is the fulfillment of what was typified when Israel was redeemed from Egypt.” - ESV

Expository Commentary

REDEMPTION

The blood of Jesus, like a key, frees us from the shackles of our inherited patterns of sin.

IMPLICATION OF REDEMPTION

Less bondage to sin.

More freedom from sin.

MESSAGE OUTLINE

Three Complex Terms

(Propitiation, Redemption, Justification)

One Compelling Invitation

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

ROMANS 3:23-25

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

ROMANS 5:9

“Our justification means not only that our sins are forgiven and that we have been declared to be righteous by God Himself, not merely that we were righteous at the moment when we believed, but permanently righteous. For justification means this also, that we are given by God the positive righteousness of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

JUSTIFICATION The blood of Jesus, like a gavel in the hands of judge, declares us righteous in the courtroom of Almighty God.

IMPLICATION OF JUSTIFICATION

Less striving for God.

More rest in God.

PROPITIATION

Less fear of God. More peace with God.

REDEMPTION

Less bondage to sin. More freedom from sin.

JUSTIFICATION

Less striving for God. More rest in God.

MESSAGE OUTLINE

Three Complex Terms

(Propitiation, Redemption, Justification)

One Compelling Invitation

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

ROMANS 3:23-25