Washed in His Blood

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This is a sermon that was given as part of a communion service and was based on the text found in Rev. 1:5-6.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Today, because of the fact that we are celebrating communion, I want to focus on just a couple of verses that are included here in Rev. 1. John has given a brief introduction (1-3); greeting (4-5a); and doxology (5a-6). In his greeting he mentions that the message comes from “him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ…”

Let me pause just a moment to address a question that arises from this passage that I suppose many of you are asking, as I did when I read it. Who/what are the “seven Spirits…before his throne?”

I don’t want to take a lot of time to get tied up with this, but let me just offer this much…

ð     Some Bible scholars say it is a reference to seven ministering angels (spirit-beings), in which case the word “Spirits” should be translated with a small “s” rather than capital “s”.

ð     I felt that the stronger argument was presented for the view that it is a reference to the Holy Spirit. The number seven is included because it is a significant number throughout scripture; symbolically emphasizing perfection, completion and universality.

ð     It is further argued that the number seven refers to the diversity or fullness of the Holy Spirit’s operations in the world.

Then it seems like John breaks immediately into a doxology or song of praise to Christ and in that phrase we find the words that I want to focus on today.

v. 5 “…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…”

In preparation for the sacrament of communion, I want to direct our thoughts for the next several minutes on these statements: He loved us; He washed us; and He made us.

I.   He Loved Us

Oh, dear friends, these words are so familiar to us and they are so common throughout the Bible, but they are “music” to our ears! The love of God is the underlying motivation for everything else He has done for us and with us.

We’ve all heard so much about the love of God I am sure that I can’t tell you anything “new” today, but… Oh, how wonderful and pleasant it is to review it again.

Love prompted the Father to send the Son. (Jn. 3:16)

Love compelled the Son to go to the cross. “While we were yet (still) sinners, Christ died for us.” “Here is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…”

II.  He Washed Us

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

(Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible) Sins leave a stain upon the soul, a stain of guilt and of pollution. Nothing can fetch out this stain but the blood of Christ…  (Deeper than the Stain)

(Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament) He has removed the pollution of sin from our souls by his blood; that is, his blood has been applied to cleanse us from sin. Blood can be represented as having a cleansing power only as it makes an expiation for sin, for considered literally its effect would be the reverse. The language is such as would be used only on the supposition that he had made an atonement, and that it was by the atonement that we are cleansed…

III. He Made Us

These are powerful words. They are encouraging words; beautiful words. He not only loved us and washed us, but He made us what He wanted us to be. The great news of the Gospel is that Jesus does transform us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Jesus not only made us a new “creation” (creature), but He made us into something that we never could have hoped to be…

“Kings” – His divine work of grace in our lives makes us royalty!

            O yes, O yes, I’m a child of the king

            His royal blood now flows through my veins…

 “Priests” – that same grace makes us into a priesthood of believers.

The Apostle Peter writes that we are a “royal priesthood.” (1 Pe. 2:9) Read Rev. 5:9-10

The Protestant Reformation revived the biblical concept of the priesthood of all believers. Every truly born-again Christian has the privilege of entering into the holy of holies. We can “come boldly unto the throne of grace.” (Heb. 4:16).

The distinction of priests and people, nearer and more remote from God, shall cease; all shall have nearest access to Him. All persons and things shall be holy to the Lord. (JFB, A Commentary… on the Old and New Testaments.)

Conclusion:

We are going to share the sacrament of communion in just a few more minutes. As we prepare to receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper, let us reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ loved us so much that He willingly came to this earth and surrendered His life for us.

He washed us in His atoning blood and all our transgressions have been blotted out and will be remembered against us no more! He has transformed us; made us into something we were not and never had any hope of becoming – kings and priests.

Praise the Lord for His wonderful grace!