The Shed Blood of Christ
E.A. Johnston explains that the shed blood of Christ is the essential and only means by which sinners are reconciled to God and saved from His wrath through faith.
In this powerful sermon, E.A. Johnston expounds on the vital doctrine of the shed blood of Christ as the only means of salvation. Drawing from key Scriptures including Hebrews, Matthew, Romans, and Exodus, Johnston explains the necessity of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and the personal application of His blood through faith. He challenges listeners to understand that religious rituals or church affiliation cannot save, but only a vital union with Christ through His blood can secure eternal life. This message calls believers to a deeper appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice and the assurance it brings.
Full Transcript
My Bible says in Hebrews 9.22, And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission. This explains, friends, why Christ had to die, why that innocent Lamb of God had to be slain on Calvary. Jesus said in Matthew's Gospel in chapter 26 and verse 28, For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remissions of sins.
When the Son of God was nailed up on that bloody cross, He made a way for a sinner like me to be reconciled to a holy God. In Romans 5.9 we read, Much more than being now justified by His blood, We shall be saved from wrath through Him. Christ on that ignoble tree made a way for a sinner like me.
He shed His blood for me. But I can't stop there, friends. I can't fall short of heaven there.
His blood has to be applied to me. It's when His life is laid down and applied to me that the Father can look at me and say, When I see the blood, when I see the blood, that's when the fury of His wrath passes over me. We must go back to Exodus in the Old Testament for a description of the Passover, as it was a significant type of Christ.
The first observance of the Passover was extraordinary. The blood of a slain lamb must be sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop upon the lintel of the door. And on the two side posts, we read in Exodus 12.23, the words of Moses, For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians.
And when he seeeth the blood upon the lintel and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Listen, friends. When the blood was applied, then the destroying angel could pass over them as it slew the firstborn of the Egyptians.
It was when the angel of God saw the blood that he stayed his hand. So too, we are saved from the wrath of God by the blood of Christ and His imputed righteousness. When the destroying angel flew over Egypt that dark night, he was looking for one thing to keep him from breaking in on a family and slaying their firstborn.
What was he looking for? If he saw a family of Jews on their faces engaged in prayer, would that keep God's wrath away? No, sir. What if they found them fasting? No, that would not help them either. Nothing they could drum up in a religiously way could save them.
But it was only by the blood applied to the door that did the trick. Wherever the blood is applied in a sinner receives a whole Christ by faith. That's when his life is laid down and applied to me.
That's my only hope. And that's your only hope as well, friend. You don't get to heaven by repeating a prayer.
You can't escape hell by just walking up an aisle. Your church membership won't keep you out of those flames of misery. Just believing that Christ died and rose again won't cut the mustard either, friend.
His shed blood must be applied to you by saving faith. When you come, exercise in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that's when it happens. He is the only refuge for sin, but we must get under his blood.
I must be in a vital union with the living Lord. When the shed blood of Christ is applied to me, then I can say with those rejoicing saints in heaven from Revelation 1-5 unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins. In his own blood, let us pray.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Necessity of Christ's Shed Blood
- Hebrews 9:22 explains remission requires blood
- Christ as the innocent Lamb slain on Calvary
- Matthew 26:28 declares His blood is for remission of sins
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II. The Application of the Blood
- Romans 5:9 shows justification and salvation through His blood
- The blood must be applied personally to the believer
- Faith is the means by which the blood is applied
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III. The Old Testament Type: The Passover
- Exodus 12:23 describes the blood on doorposts protecting from death
- The destroying angel passed over only where blood was applied
- The Passover foreshadows Christ’s saving blood
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IV. The Only Hope for Salvation
- Religious acts cannot save without the blood
- Faith and repentance are necessary to receive salvation
- Union with Christ through His shed blood secures eternal life
Key Quotes
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.” — E.A. Johnston
“When the shed blood of Christ is applied to me, then I can say with those rejoicing saints in heaven from Revelation 1-5 unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” — E.A. Johnston
“You don't get to heaven by repeating a prayer. You can't escape hell by just walking up an aisle. Your church membership won't keep you out of those flames of misery.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Trust in the shed blood of Christ alone for your salvation, not in religious works or rituals.
- Exercise repentance and faith to personally receive the saving benefits of Christ’s blood.
- Live in the assurance that being under the blood of Christ protects you from God’s wrath.