Difference between revisions of "Is Christ our sacrifice?"

Latest revision as of 22:04, 2 January 2020

Is Christ our sacrifice?

Then see the excellence of his sacrifice.

(1.) Christ's sacrifice isperfect . "By one offering, he has perfected those who are sanctified." Therefore, how impious are the Papists, in joining their merits and the prayers of saints with Christ's sacrifice! They offer him up daily in the mass, as if Christ's sacrifice on the cross were imperfect. This is a blasphemy against Christ's priestly office. (2.) Christ's sacrifice ismeritorious . He not only died for our example but to merit salvation. The person who suffered being God as well as man , put virtue into his sufferings; our sins were expiated, and God appeased. No sooner did the messengers say, "Uriah is dead," but David's anger was pacified. No sooner did Christ die but God's anger was pacified. (3.) Christ's sacrifice isbeneficial . Out of the dead lion, Samson had honey. Christ's sacrifice procures justification of our persons, acceptance of our service, access to God with boldness, and entrance into the holy place of heaven. Heb 10:19. Through the side of Christ, a way to Heaven lies open to us. Israel passed through the Red sea to Canaan; so through the red sea of Christ's blood, we enter into the heavenly Canaan.

Use five: Let us apply this blood of Christ. All the virtue of a medicine is in the application; though the medicine is made of the blood of God, it will not heal, unless applied by faith. As fire is to the chemist, so is faith to the Christian; the chemist can do nothing without fire, so there is nothing done without faith. Faith makes Christ's sacrifice ours. "Christ Jesus my Lord." It is not gold in the mine which enriches but gold in the hand . Faith is the hand which receives Christ's golden merits. It is not a cordial in the glass that refreshes the spirit but a cordial drunk down. "By faith we drink the blood of Christ," Cyprian. Faith opens the orifice of Christ's wounds, and drinks the precious cordial of his blood. Without faith Christ himself will not avail us.

Use six: Let us love a bleeding Savior, and let us show our love to Christ, by being ready to suffer for him. Many rejoice at Christ's suffering for them but do not dream of their suffering for him. Joseph dreamed of his preferment  but not of his imprisonment . Was Christ a sacrifice? Did he bear God's wrath for us? We should bear man's wrath for him. Christ's death was voluntary. "Lo, I come to do your will, O God." "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how it consumes Me until it is finished!" Christ calls his sufferings a baptism; he was to be (as it were) baptized in his own blood, and how did he thirst for that time! "How it consumes Me!" Oh then, let us be willing to suffer for Christ! Christ has taken away the venom and sting of the saints' sufferings: there is no wrath in their cup. Our sufferings Christ can make sweet. As there was oil mixed in the peace-offering, so God can mix the oil of gladness with our sufferings. Life must be parted with shortly; what is it to part with it a little sooner, as a sacrifice to Christ, as a seal of sincerity, and a pledge of thankfulness!

Use seven: This sacrifice of Christ's blood may infinitely comfort us. This is the blood of atonement. Christ's cross is the hinge of our deliverance; the hinge and fountain of our comfort.

(1.) This blood comforts in case ofguilt ! "Oh, says the soul, my sins trouble me!" But Christ's blood was shed for the remission of sin. Matt 26:28. Let us see our sins laid on Christ and then they are no more ours, but his. (2.) In case ofpollution . Christ's blood is a healing and cleansing blood. It is healing. "With his stripes we are healed." It is the best healing-salve, it heals at a distance. Though Christ is in heaven, we may feel the virtue of his blood healing our corruptions. Christ's blood iscleansing . It is therefore compared to fountain-water. Zech 13:1. The word is a glass to show us our spots, and Christ's blood is a fountain to wash them away; it turns leprosy into purity. "The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin." I John 1:7. There is indeed one spot so black, that Christ's blood does not wash away, namely, the sin against the Holy Spirit. Not but that there is virtue enough in Christ's blood to wash it away; but he who has sinned that sin, will not be washed; he despises Christ's blood, and tramples it under foot. Heb 10:29. Thus we see what a strong cordial Christ's blood is; it is the anchor-hold of our faith, the spring of our joy, the crown of our desires, and the only support both in life and death! In all our fears, let us comfort ourselves with the sin atoning sacrifice of Christ's blood. Christ died both as a purchaser and as a conqueror : as a purchaser in regard of God, having by his blood obtained our salvation, and as a conqueror in regard of Satan, the cross being his triumphant chariot, wherein he has led hell and death captive.

Use seven: Bless God for this precious sacrifice of Christ's death. "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" And for what does David bless him? "Who redeems your life from destruction!" Christ gave himself a sin -offering for us; let us give ourselves a thank -offering to him. If a man redeems another out of debt , will he not be grateful? How deeply do we stand obliged to Christ, who has redeemed us from hell and damnation! "And they sang a new song, saying You are worthy to take the book, and open the seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood." Let our hearts and tongues join in concert to bless God, and let us show thankfulness to Christ by fruitfulness; let us bring forth (as spice trees) the fruits of humility, zeal, and good works. This is to live unto him who died for us. 2 Cor 5:15. The wise men not only worshiped Christ but presented him with gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matt 2:11. Let us present Christ with the fruits of righteousness, which are unto the glory and praise of God.