The Blood that Speaks of Better Things

1. Read: Genesis 4:1-10

2. About the Text:

1) Abel’s blood cried from the ground where he was slain (10).

2) God heard the cry of that blood and responded to it.

3) Cain was punished for his transgressions.

3. Read Hebrews 12:22-24

1) This blood also cries to God for action.

2) However, this blood of sprinkling is different than Abel’s.

3) It speaks of better things than that of Abel.

4) Abel’s blood cried for vengeance; Christ’s cries for salvation.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The church was purchased by the blood

1) “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).

2) If the whole church was purchased, then each member is purchased.

3) “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

4) To whom do we belong?

5) Toy sailboat illustration.

2. We are reconciled by the blood of Christ.

1) “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13).

2) “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation’” (Revelation 2:9).

3) The church is not a segregated body; it is reconciled.

3. We are a priesthood through the blood of Christ

1) “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb.10:19).

2) Only priests could enter into the holy place.

3) “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

4. All blessings in Christ come through the blood of Christ.

1) “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

2) Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

1. Prerequisites

1) “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Romans 3:24-25).

2) “Without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to God . . .” (Hebrews 11:6).

2. Propitiation

1) It is that which satisfies or appeases.

2) “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

3) “ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

3. Redemption

1) “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

2) “In Him we have redemption through His blood…” (Eph.1:7).

4. Forgiveness

1) “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col.1:14).

2) “ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt.26:28).

3) “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb.9:22).

5. Access

1) “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Heb.9:14-15).

2) “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19).

6. Overcoming – “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…” (Rev.12:11).

1. See Hebrews 9:14 above – “To serve the living God.”

2. What if we are not responsible?

3. “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

4. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,” (Hebrews 10:22-25).

5. “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:12-13).

1. The blood that speaks of better things speak about . . .

1) The Church

2) Salvation

3) Responsibility

2. Invitation