The Blood of the Cross

Part II

Scripture: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up." Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT

Introduction: the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit came up with a plan so that the human race, which is sinful, could be transformed. This meant that all who would confess that Jesus was the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and rose again from the dead, would be saved or transformed. This meant that as a follower of Jesus Christ we were changed from the inside out. When this happened we were now eligible to be transferred into a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Most of the kingdoms on planet earth are called countries and given different names. England still carries the name United Kingdom or UK. Over the past six thousand years kingdoms have risen and then fallen. The one most noted when Christ was born was the Roman Empire. It lasted from 300BC as a Republic to 476 AD, ending with autocracy of the Caesars. One of the most noted was Augustus Caesar. He ruled during Christ birth and early life. "At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire." Luke 2:1 NLT This great kingdom finally fell. No kingdom on earth will last forever, therefore, God promised a Kingdom that could not be shaken and everyone who receives His Son could become a part of this eternal kingdom. "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe." Hebrews 12:28 NLT

In the opening two verses of chapter 12 is an application of faith principles given in chapter 11, often called the Hall of Faith. The vast number of saints described as heroes of faith were witnesses to the first-century Jewish believers who wondered if they could finish the course which they had started when they confessed Jesus as their Savior or Messiah. Some wondered if their confession was worth all the trouble it was causing them. Many lived in poverty because their possessions had been confiscated, while others were persecuted and left with little strength to carry on. The testimony of the witnesses in chapter 11 assures all believers that it is possible to be justified by faith, gain a reputation for righteous living, and endure suffering and death without seeing the promise of God completely fulfilled. Therefore, great things are accomplished for God. Since they did it, any believer can do it too. To succeed in this race of life, believers in Christ Jesus must get rid of the sin of unbelief which will slow their progress. We must forsake all other impediments to faith. We must run this race and enter this Kingdom of God that cannot be shaken, with great "staying power." It is a course marked out for each of us that God has planned for all who will follow Him.

Since we are honoring Scouts today, notice the strong statements of courage that Scouts learn.

Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Scout Law: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

1. Jesus is our example.

   1. Jesus ignored all distractions.

      1. He could have declined His Fathers plan to save the world.

      2. He could have not stood up to the religious leaders who were dishonest; cheating widows out of their livelihood, and making up laws that were impossible to keep.

      3. He refused to compromise with the religious world, the political world, and the world of darkness or evil

   2. We must be as dedicated to the cause of Christ as Jesus was to His Heavily Father's plan to save all of us.

      1. We must not be distracted by things that pull us away from reading the Bible, believing that Jesus is our best friend; regardless of what others say or do, we will not join in with them. "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. Hebrews 12:2 a AMP

      2. Jesus is now in heaven, never will He suffer again. People are coming to heaven by the scores because they would not be distracted by the temptations of evil nor their so called "friends" wanting to bring them down.

      3. Heaven and the millions of people on earth were more important to Jesus. He paid the ultimate price, His life, so we could come into God's Kingdom for eternity. "He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2b

   3. Since Christ was faithful to God's plan, God accepted His Son's blood as a sacrifice for our sins.

      1. The life of the body is in the blood. Once you lose too much blood, you die. "For the life of the body is in its blood." Leviticus 17:11 NLT

      2. Christ was sinless; therefore, His blood was free from sin. God gave life to the human being that Mary, the mother of Jesus, carried. "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin." Hebrews 4:15 NLT

      3. The blood of Christ has the power to remove sin from our eternal soul. "Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins."Hebrews 9:14 NLT

      4. That which is eternal has no past. It is always a glorious and endless present. Once we receive Christ as our Savior, our past sins do not exist before God.

      5. As believers, we must cherish this awesome privilege of serving Christ here on earth. "This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life." 1 John 5:11 NLT