The Better Blood (5 of 5)
Series: The Better Jesus
Jeff Strite
Hebrews 9:11-9:28
A woman once wrote that at a garage sale she had spotted a handsome antique copper kettle for only $2.50. It was badly tarnished, so she asked the woman running the sale if the discoloration would come out.
She cheerfully offered to try some copper cleaner on it and disappeared with it into the house. Reappearing with the gleaming kettle, she handed it to the buyer for inspection. It was indeed a more attractive item, plus it also had a new tag attached. It read: "Like new-$10."
APPLY: Interesting. When the copper kettle 1st went on sale, it's owner practically gave it away.
But something changed its worth. What made the kettle more valuable? A simple cleansing.
When the owner took the trouble to clean away the grime/ removed the discoloration and stains it was worth 4 times as much
Almost everything IS more valuable once it has been washed and cleaned up - and so it is with us.
The Bible tells us we are stained with sin. The guilt and shame of our past behavior takes away our value Romans 3:23 tells us "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
And that has created a unique problem for us... because Habakkuk 1:13 tells us God's "eyes are too pure to look on evil; (He) cannot tolerate wrong...."
But the Bible also tells us: God loved us so much, He offered us a way to "wash away" our sins. A way to cleanse our souls so that we might regain the value He created us to have.
I. What is intriguing is, that in cleansing us, God has chosen a VERY UNUSUAL method of cleaning us up.
Look at Hebrews 9:22 "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Blood sacrifices happened all the time throughout the Old Testament. And here in Hebrews, we find that the Blood of Jesus is what purifies us.
What is there about blood that would make it a "cleansing agent?" If I recall, blood is one of the most difficult stains to get out of your clothes.
...
Series: The Better Jesus
Jeff Strite
Hebrews 9:11-9:28
A woman once wrote that at a garage sale she had spotted a handsome antique copper kettle for only $2.50. It was badly tarnished, so she asked the woman running the sale if the discoloration would come out.
She cheerfully offered to try some copper cleaner on it and disappeared with it into the house. Reappearing with the gleaming kettle, she handed it to the buyer for inspection. It was indeed a more attractive item, plus it also had a new tag attached. It read: "Like new-$10."
APPLY: Interesting. When the copper kettle 1st went on sale, it's owner practically gave it away.
But something changed its worth. What made the kettle more valuable? A simple cleansing.
When the owner took the trouble to clean away the grime/ removed the discoloration and stains it was worth 4 times as much
Almost everything IS more valuable once it has been washed and cleaned up - and so it is with us.
The Bible tells us we are stained with sin. The guilt and shame of our past behavior takes away our value Romans 3:23 tells us "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
And that has created a unique problem for us... because Habakkuk 1:13 tells us God's "eyes are too pure to look on evil; (He) cannot tolerate wrong...."
But the Bible also tells us: God loved us so much, He offered us a way to "wash away" our sins. A way to cleanse our souls so that we might regain the value He created us to have.
I. What is intriguing is, that in cleansing us, God has chosen a VERY UNUSUAL method of cleaning us up.
Look at Hebrews 9:22 "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Blood sacrifices happened all the time throughout the Old Testament. And here in Hebrews, we find that the Blood of Jesus is what purifies us.
What is there about blood that would make it a "cleansing agent?" If I recall, blood is one of the most difficult stains to get out of your clothes.
...
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