Cleansing power of Christ’s blood

Scripture: 1 John 1:7

Sermon notes

The subject matter of this epistle is explained in v1. The book is about Christ as the revealer of eternal life. The experience of that life by sinful mankind; and the enjoyment of the fellowship with God that eternal life entails, are issues that the Apostle deals with.

The issue of fellowship with God is very prominent in our text. The real issue of sin in our lives intrudes into our enjoyment of God’s presence.

• We cannot deny the presence of sin, v8, 10. We cannot but be made aware of sin as we draw near to the light of God’s presence!
• Often we cannot forget the memory of past confessed sins that haunt us and spoil our peaceful fellowship with God. A sense of guilt and shame is a very effective tool in the hand of the devil to sabotage enjoying God.

The definitive answer to these questions is found in what the Bible teaches about the blood of Christ. Here is one of the great Biblical statements about the atonement made by the Lord Jesus in His death. The blood He shed is foundational to our spiritual life and peace; as well as the experience of fellowship with God in time and eternity.

I   CHRIST’S BLOOD AS A CLEANSING AGENT.

There are a number of facts that are drawn to our attention here that enlighten us as to the nature of this cleansing blood.

1. It is the blood of the Messiah. He is Jesus the Christ. The office that Jesus held was that of the God-commissioned and God-empowered deliverer. Cp Matt 1:21. He was with the Father and was manifested unto us, v2.
2. It is the blood of God’s Son. Blood is a human attribute; yet here is a title of deity. Cp Acts 20:28. The miracle of Christ as the incarnate God is clearly set out. The thought is that this is blood that will function with the power of Divine omnipotence. Cp 2Cor 5:19.
3. It is blood shed in sacrifice for sin. The whole Biblical emphasis on blood is in the context of atonement for sin. Cp Lev 17:11, John 1:29. The pouring out of the life-blood was a powerful statement of death as the sentence of God on sin. Cp Heb 10:4-10

II  THE CLEANSING POWER OF THE BLOOD.

1. It cleanseth us. The extent of depravity and wicked filthiness of man is the measure of the cleansing power. Cp Ps 14:3, Is 64:6, 2 Cor 7:1. The stain of human sin is such that nothing else can remove it! Cp Jer 2:22.
2. Cleanseth. The word simply means to purge or purify. It is the removal of moral uncleanness that separates from God. The language of the Apostle here indicates present and continuous cleansing. The blood of Christ avails for the recurring filthiness of sin in the life of the Christian, v9. Sin can be confessed and forgiven because of the blood. The standard of cleansing is implied in the  previous clause: to withstand examination in the light of God. What cleanness it produces! Cp Num 23:21, Jer 50:20.
3. From all sin, v7. Sin is a ‘missing of the mark’ set by God’s law. There is a parallel term used, v9: unrighteousness—that which is the opposite of the righteousnessdemanded by the law. There is a removal of the criminal guilt of the sinner! Cp Rom 8:1. The extent of Divine pardon is indicative of the cleansing power of the blood. Cp Is 38:17, Ps 103:12, Mic 7:18-19, Heb 10:12, 17. There is full and final removal of sin from the redeemed.

III   THE CLEANSING THE BLOOD IMPARTS IS THE BASIS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

1. Personal fellowship. The blood of Christ secures personal, one-on-one communion with God. Fellowship is ‘communion’, ‘participation’. Cp Romans 11:17 (same Greek root). On the basis of atonement we draw upon Divine resources. The blood of Christ secures for us the experience of every communicable attribute of God.
2. A walk with God. It is striking that John uses this term to describe a life of communion with the Lord. There is a lifestyle that marks those cleansed by Jesus’ blood. They turn from darkness to walk with God. Yet they recognize very clearly that the basis of their communion with God is not the virtue of their walk but the merit of Jesus’ blood.
3. A standard of fellowship that is obviously heavenly. The expression as He is in the light… indicates heavenly perfection. Such a perfect walk is not possible this side of glory, even though we desire it and strive after it. Our experience of God in Heaven will be secured by the eternal value of Jesus’ cleansing blood. Cp Rev 7:14-15.

Have you been cleansed by the blood? Are you looking to that blood daily as the basis of confession and forgiveness of your sin, and fellowship with God?