The Continuous Cleansing of Jesus' Blood (1 John 1:7)
This sermon unpacks the profound truth that the blood of Jesus provides an uninterrupted cleansing for all who believe. It invites listeners to rest in this finished work, finding security and motivation for a life of genuine holiness.
This sermon reveals that Jesus' blood continuously cleanses believers from all sin, ensuring constant fellowship with God and empowering them to live holy lives. This cleansing is by grace through Christ's finished work, not by human effort or performance.
Overview
This sermon centers on 1 John 1:7, challenging the common understanding of "walking in the light" as a performance-based activity. Instead, it asserts that believers are already "sons of light" by faith in Christ, and their fellowship with God is secured by the continuous, never-ending cleansing power of Jesus' blood, which is evident in the Greek text.
The preacher explains that God's ultimate attribute is love, which all His other attributes—justice, righteousness, and holiness—serve. This is powerfully demonstrated by God's willingness to sacrifice His uncreated Son for humanity's sins, even while they were still His enemies, a love that overwhelms and inspires wonder.
The sermon elaborates on the comprehensive nature of Jesus' finished work, tracing the shedding of His divine and human blood from the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross. This redemptive act frees believers from the curse of painful toil and anxious thoughts, emphasizing that salvation is solely by grace through the blood, not through human works or religious efforts.
The message reiterates that the continuous cleansing by Jesus' blood, as affirmed by scholars like Francis Havergal and Andrew Murray, is an uninterrupted flow that deals with every sin the moment it occurs. This constant cleansing fosters a sense of being clean, which in turn motivates believers to pursue holiness rather than using grace as a "license to sin."
Key points
- 1 John 1:7, in its original Greek, reveals that the blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses believers from all sin.
- Believers are inherently "sons of light" by faith in Christ, and their fellowship with God is constant because of this continuous cleansing.
- God's supreme attribute is love, demonstrated by His giving His uncreated Son as a sacrifice for sinful humanity.
- Jesus' blood, shed from Gethsemane to the cross, provides complete redemption from the curse of toil, sin, and anxious thoughts.
- Salvation and ongoing cleansing are solely by God's grace and Christ's finished work, not by human merit or religious actions.
- Understanding the continuous cleansing empowers believers to live holy lives, fostering a desire for purity rather than promoting sin.
- The Passover blood on the doorpost exemplifies how God's protection and peace are grounded in the fact of the blood, independent of human feelings or performance.
In Joseph Prince's words
“When your sin meets the blood, who wins?”
“The devil wants to rob you from that sense of you're clean by the blood of Jesus.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: Understanding "Walking in the Light"
- A. Insecurity from works-based interpretations
- B. Believers are "sons of light" (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
- C. The blood continuously cleanses us
- D. This leads to holiness, not a license to sin
- II. The Nature of God and His Love
- A. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving
- B. All God's attributes serve His essence of love
- C. God gave His uncreated Son as a sacrifice for sinners
- III. The Finished Work of Jesus and Redemption
- A. Old Testament sacrifices pointed to Jesus' blood
- B. Jesus' blood shed from Gethsemane to the cross
- 1. Sweat like blood: redemption from the curse of toil
- 2. Crown of thorns: redemption from anxious, sinful thoughts
- C. Salvation and cleansing are by grace, not human works
- 1. Trusting the blood, not personal merit or religious activities
- 2. The example of the Passover lamb's blood (Exodus)
- IV. The Continuous Cleansing of the Blood (1 John 1:7)
- A. Combatting Gnosticism: Jesus came in the flesh, sin is real
- B. "If we say we have no sin" (1 John 1:8) addresses Gnostics
- C. "If we confess our sins" (1 John 1:9) for non-Christians or those returning to trust
- D. "Walk in the light as he is in the light" refers to a realm, not performance
- 1. Greek word "en" (in) vs. "kata" (according to)
- 2. Delivered from darkness into light (Colossians, Acts)
- 3. Believers "fall in the ark," never outside
- E. The Greek present active tense of "cleanses" means continuous cleansing
- 1. Supported by Francis Havergal's discovery
- 2. Supported by Andrew Murray's teaching
- 3. Constant, uninterrupted flow of cleansing power
- F. This continuous cleansing empowers holy living and a sense of cleanness
- V. Conclusion: Accepting Jesus Christ and His Cleansing Blood
- A. Invitation to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord
- B. Prayer for divine protection (Psalm 91)
Scripture references
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5
- Jeremiah
- Romans 10:9-10
- 1 John 1:1
- 1 John 1:7
- 1 John 1:8
- 1 John 1:9
- Colossians
- Acts
- Leviticus
- Psalm 91
- Exodus
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Insights
The continuous cleansing of Jesus' blood secures our fellowship with God.
God's profound love is the ultimate essence guiding all His attributes.
True peace rests on spiritual facts, not on our temporary feelings.
Questions & answers
What does "walking in the light" mean for a Christian, according to the sermon?
For a Christian, "walking in the light" means living in the realm of light into which they have been delivered by faith in Christ. It is a state of being a "son of light," not a performance of perfect behavior or a set of works, and it secures constant fellowship with God.
How does the sermon explain God's love in relation to His other attributes?
The sermon emphasizes that God's love is His essential attribute, to which all others, such as justice, righteousness, and holiness, ultimately serve. This profound love is demonstrated by God giving His uncreated Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for humanity's sins, even for those who hated Him.
What is the significance of Jesus' sweat becoming like blood in Gethsemane?
The sermon interprets Jesus' sweat becoming like blood in Gethsemane, and His wearing the crown of thorns, as His bearing the curse of painful toil ("by the sweat of your face") and the anxiety and sinfulness of human thoughts. This signifies our redemption from these curses through His sacrifice.
Does the sermon teach that Christians can lose fellowship with God?
No, the sermon explicitly teaches that believers never lose fellowship with God. This is because the blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses them from all sin, an uninterrupted process that keeps them in constant communion with Him, as indicated by the Greek tense in 1 John 1:7.
How does the sermon address the concern that continuous cleansing might lead to a "license to sin"?
The sermon argues that continuous cleansing does not lead to a license to sin, but rather a "license to live holy." When believers have a profound sense of being clean by the blood of Jesus, they are more motivated to live cleanly, whereas a sense of being dirty can lead to indifference.
What does the sermon identify as the biggest problem for people receiving the gospel?
The sermon states that the biggest problem is people's prideful desire to add their own works, penance, or contributions to Christ's finished work. They fail to fully trust in God's grace and the complete atonement provided by the blood of Jesus.
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