The Blood: From Fig Leaves to Forgiveness and Relationship

Devotional

Day 1: Where There Is Blood, There Is Purpose

The story of David bringing the ark back to Jerusalem is not just a tale of passionate worship, but a vivid reminder that every drop of blood shed along the way had deep meaning. With every six steps, an ox and a fattened calf were sacrificed, creating a trail of blood and sacrifice that pointed to the seriousness and necessity of atonement. This was not a random or senseless act, but a purposeful demonstration that where there is blood, there is purpose—God’s purpose to draw His people near through sacrifice. As you reflect on the visible and invisible sacrifices in your own life, consider how God uses even the most difficult offerings to bring about His greater plan. [44:36]

2 Samuel 6:12-15 (ESV)
And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God asking you to make a costly sacrifice, and how might that act of obedience serve a greater purpose in your relationship with Him or others?

Day 2: God Covers Our Shame with Sacrifice

From the very beginning, humanity has tried to cover its own shame and brokenness, fashioning fig leaves to hide from God and one another. Yet, God in His love does not leave us in our self-made coverings. Instead, He provides a true covering—garments of skin, requiring the first shedding of blood in Scripture. This act points to God’s willingness to sacrifice something innocent to cover the guilty, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. You do not have to hide behind your own efforts or masks; God invites you to be clothed by His grace and live free from shame. [49:41]

Genesis 3:21 (ESV)
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Reflection: In what ways are you still trying to cover your own shame or brokenness, and how can you let God’s sacrifice be your true covering today?

Day 3: Without the Shedding of Blood, There Is No Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not something we can earn through good works, charity, or religious activity; it is only possible through the shedding of blood. This is a foundational truth woven throughout Scripture: without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. The blood of Jesus is the only means by which we are made clean, forgiven, and given a new identity. Let this truth free you from striving and invite you to receive the gift of forgiveness that only Christ can offer. [52:55]

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Reflection: Is there any area where you are still trying to earn God’s forgiveness or approval? What would it look like to simply receive the forgiveness Jesus offers through His blood?

Day 4: Relationship, Not Just Forgiveness, Is the Point

God’s ultimate desire is not just to forgive your sins, but to bring you into a daily, intimate relationship with Him. Forgiveness is essential, but it is not the end goal—relationship is. You were created to walk with God, to enjoy His presence, and to live out of your beloved identity as His child. Lay down the pressure to perform or to keep up appearances, and step into the freedom of being known and loved by your Father. [55:25]

John 10:10 (ESV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Reflection: How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper, everyday relationship with God this week, moving beyond religious routine into genuine connection?

Day 5: Lay Down Your Burdens and Walk in What the Blood Has Purchased

The blood of Jesus has purchased more for you than you may realize—peace, healing, freedom from anxiety, and the ability to forgive others. You were not meant to carry the burdens of shame, unforgiveness, or anxiety. Instead, God invites you to lay these down at His feet and take up the good news of what Christ has done. Today, ask God to show you any area where you are not yet walking in the fullness of what His blood has bought for you, and take a step to receive it. [01:06:43]

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Reflection: What is one burden—anxiety, unforgiveness, shame, or something else—that you need to lay down before God today, trusting that Jesus’ blood is enough for your healing and freedom?

Sermon Summary

Who are we, that God would bring us this far and nail every accusation and sin to the cross? In Christ, there is no more shame, no more condemnation—only gratitude for the One who paid our debt and washed us white as snow. True gratitude is not just about acknowledging the gift, but the Giver Himself—Jesus. As we reflect on the power of the blood of Christ, we are reminded that we have been washed, cleansed, and redeemed, and our only fitting response is heartfelt thanksgiving.

South Carolina, with its beauty and diversity, is a place ripe for unity and transformation through the gospel. The church is called to be a beacon of hope, not by working alone, but by partnering with others to serve the community—addressing needs like foster care, addiction, hunger, and more. We are to show the love of an invisible God by loving our visible neighbors, making the gospel tangible through acts of kindness and service.

The Bible is a book full of blood, and where there is blood, there is purpose. The story of David bringing the ark back to Jerusalem is a vivid example: every six steps, a sacrifice was made, leaving a trail of blood and worship. This points us to a deeper truth—the principle of first mention—where the first blood in Scripture, in Genesis 3, sets the tone for all that follows. When Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, but God, in His love, covered them with garments of skin, requiring the first sacrifice. This act foreshadows the gospel: something innocent must die so that the guilty can be covered.

We all have a tendency to hide behind our own “fig leaves”—our achievements, possessions, or personas—trying to mask our brokenness. But God invites us to lay down our masks and receive the covering He provides through the blood of Jesus. Forgiveness is essential, but it is not the ultimate point; relationship is. God’s desire is not just to forgive us, but to bring us into an everyday, intimate relationship with Him. The blood of Christ has purchased for us not only forgiveness, but freedom, peace, and a new identity as beloved children of God.

We are called to lay down our anxieties, unforgiveness, and striving, and to walk in the fullness of what Christ’s blood has bought for us. Don’t settle for lesser joys or religious routines—embrace the holy happiness and deep relationship God offers. Today, let us respond by receiving all that Jesus has made possible, living out our new identity, and sharing this good news with a world still hiding behind fig leaves.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Blood Reveals Purpose, Not Just Pain Throughout Scripture, blood is not merely a symbol of violence or loss, but of deep purpose. Every instance of blood—whether in sacrifice, covenant, or atonement—points to God’s intentional plan to redeem and restore. The trail of sacrifices as David brought the ark to Jerusalem was not just a spectacle, but a declaration that where there is blood, there is divine purpose and worship. [44:36]
2. God’s Covering Replaces Our Self-Made Masks From the beginning, humanity has tried to cover its shame and brokenness with self-made solutions—fig leaves of achievement, status, or distraction. Yet God, in His mercy, replaces our inadequate coverings with His own, at the cost of innocent blood. This first act of sacrifice in Genesis 3 is a foreshadowing of Christ, showing that only God’s provision can truly cover and heal our deepest wounds. [49:41]
3. Forgiveness Is Essential, But Relationship Is the Goal While forgiveness through the blood of Christ is absolutely necessary, it is not the end in itself. God’s ultimate aim is restored relationship—He covers us not just to absolve guilt, but to draw us into daily, intimate fellowship with Himself. The pressure to perform or maintain religious appearances is lifted; we are invited to live as beloved children, enjoying God’s presence every day. [55:25]
4. The Blood of Christ Purchases More Than We Realize Many believers settle for a minimal experience of salvation, missing the fullness of what Christ’s blood has secured: peace, freedom from anxiety, healing, and a new identity. We are far too easily pleased with lesser joys, when God offers us “life to the full.” The invitation is to lay down our burdens and step into the abundance and shalom that Jesus has made possible. [60:31]
5. Visible Love Makes the Invisible God Known Our faith is not meant to be hidden or theoretical. By loving our neighbors in practical, sacrificial ways—partnering with others, serving the vulnerable, and meeting real needs—we make the love of God visible in our communities. This is how the gospel transforms not just individuals, but entire cultures, as we embody the kingdom mentality and extend Christ’s love beyond the church walls. [30:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:41] - Gratitude and Worship: Jesus Paid It All
[27:00] - The Power of the Blood and Renewed Minds
[27:57] - Loving Our City and Community Partnerships
[29:17] - 4SC: Serving South Carolina Together
[31:51] - Family Update and New Beginnings
[33:04] - Introducing the Series: The Blood
[34:16] - Our Aversion to Blood and Its Necessity
[35:25] - Drawing Blood: Facing Our Fears
[41:31] - David, the Ark, and a Trail of Sacrifice
[44:36] - Where There Is Blood, There Is Purpose
[45:51] - The First Blood: Genesis and the Principle of First Mention
[49:41] - God’s Covering: From Fig Leaves to Skins
[54:09] - Forgiveness, Relationship, and Our True Identity
[57:20] - Embracing Fullness: What the Blood Has Purchased
[62:25] - Responding: Laying Down Our Burdens
[66:05] - Prayer and Invitation to Walk in Wholeness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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Bible Reading

2 Samuel 6:12-15 (ESV)
> And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

Genesis 3:21 (ESV)
> And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)
> Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

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Observation Questions

In 2 Samuel 6, what did David and the people do every six steps as they brought the ark to Jerusalem? What might this have looked like practically? ([44:00])
According to Genesis 3:21, what did God do for Adam and Eve after they sinned, and what did this require? ([49:41])
The sermon mentions that “the Bible is a book full of blood.” What are some examples from the sermon or the Bible where blood is connected to purpose or worship? ([44:36])
According to Hebrews 9:22, what is necessary for forgiveness of sins? How does this connect to the stories in Genesis and 2 Samuel? ([53:33])

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Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Where there is blood, there is purpose.” Why do you think God chose to use blood and sacrifice as a way to show His purpose throughout the Bible? ([44:36])
When Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, what does this say about human nature and our attempts to deal with shame or guilt? ([48:21])
The pastor said, “Forgiveness is essential, but forgiveness is not the point. Relationship is the point.” What does this mean for how we view our faith and our connection to God? ([55:25])
The sermon talks about “visible love making the invisible God known.” How does serving others and meeting real needs help people see God? ([30:35])

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Application Questions

The sermon challenges us not to hide behind our own “fig leaves” like achievements, possessions, or personas. What are some “fig leaves” you tend to use to cover up your brokenness or insecurity? What would it look like to lay those down and let God cover you? ([48:21])
The pastor said, “Don’t settle for lesser joys or religious routines—embrace the holy happiness and deep relationship God offers.” Are there areas in your life where you are settling for less than what God wants for you? What is one step you could take to pursue a deeper relationship with God this week? ([59:13])
The blood of Christ has purchased peace, freedom, and a new identity for us. Is there an area of your life where you are not living in the fullness of what Jesus has made possible (for example, anxiety, unforgiveness, or striving)? What would it look like to lay that down and receive what Jesus offers? ([01:01:10])
The sermon highlights the importance of gratitude—not just for the gift, but for the Giver. How can you practice gratitude for Jesus in a more intentional way this week? ([23:41])
The church is called to make God’s love visible by serving the community. What is one practical way you (or your group) can show God’s love to a “visible neighbor” this month? ([30:35])
The pastor described how the church partners with others to address needs like foster care, addiction, and hunger. Is there a cause or need in your community that you feel drawn to? How might you get involved or support that work? ([29:58])
The sermon ended with an invitation to “lay down our burdens and step into the abundance and shalom that Jesus has made possible.” What is one burden you need to lay down today, and how can the group support you in prayer or encouragement? ([01:03:38])

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Sermon Clips

Christians have always made distinctive contributions um towards the culture of life in a community. This is our backyard. We can't go out there if we don't start right here. So when I think about 4SC, I think about culture being transformed. I think about a state being renewed. I think about uh the darkness that exists in our state being eradicated by the light of the gospel. Um and that affects the school systems. It affects foster care and adoption. It affects homelessness in our state. It affects the hungry and the poor. And I think that if the churches, not just New Spring, but the church at large, really grabs the vision of seeing the gospel extend outside the walls of the church, we will see South Carolina radically transformed in a way that truly leads the nation in the marriage of the gospel to the lives of people in the everyday. [00:28:30]

We show the love of an invisible God by loving a visible neighbor. And you all do that. So this month in the weeks ahead, you're going to feel us having food drives. You're going to feel us having toy drives. And oh, by the way, you're going to feel us having blood drives. Some of you have uh the blood mobile on your campus today. More on that in just a bit. I know it's here in Anderson. But all of this is in an effort to show our communities the love of Jesus Christ through visible acts of kindness. [00:31:00]

The Bible is full of blood. The Bible is full of blood. Now, in order to do this, I want to create a little bit of tension in the room because I think when we start talking about blood, some of you get nervous. Some of you don't like it. Uh, as a matter of fact, it is an irony of ironies. We were working through this series and talking about it, and one of my my friends, Katie, was talking about her daughters, and they were talking about some of them not liking the gruesomeness of what happens in the butcher shop, but they were eating cheeseburgers while they were talking about it. And I just think that's that's our world, isn't it? [00:33:39]

But in our world, we chlorinate and we sterilize and we try to insulate ourselves from any of the grotesque. We'll talk about how we love Chick-fil-A, but we won't talk about the Tyson chickens running down the interstate with us on the on the highway. Like, where are all those birds going? Can somebody say wild wings? Hell, right? But but this is life. This is real. And I'm not doing this to be I just want you to feel a little bit of this tension. [00:34:39]

But as I was reading this passage in 2 Samuel 6, something dawned on me, I was blown away at how much blood there must have been. And it wasn't actually there. Actually, in the Bible, over 380 times the word blood is used, but between 400 and 700 times it's inferred. One of those inferences is this passage where David is bringing the ark back into Jerusalem, into the city of David. the ark had been taken by the Philistines and uh the ark was being delivered back to God's people and um a guy actually dies because he touches the ark inappropriately. Oza touches the ark and so they stop the ark and they put it in the home of a man named Oed Edom. Kind of a cool name. And Oed Edom ends up living really really blessed because the presence of God is there. [00:41:31]

Now, you read history on this. You read commentaries on this. They're repeating the the act of creation on the six days of work and then the Lord's day, the Sabbath, the Shabbat. So, six days, seventh day sacrifice. Six days, seventh day sacrifice. This is a conservative estimate, but more than 10 miles more likely, was Oed Edom's home where that is to the city of David. Conservative estimate. That's 5,000 oxmen, 5,000 fattened calves for a grand total of 10,000 animals. It was a trail of sacrifice and blood. [00:44:06]

Everywhere you're reading as we are coming around the last two months of even our year of the Bible reading plans. Some of you that have been going with us, you're reading along with us. As we read our scriptures, you're going to see blood. And where you see blood, I need you to see purpose. Blinking lights. Purpose is here. Purpose is here. Purpose is here. Where there is blood, there is purpose. 10 miles of road of carrying the ark. And there is blood and guts all along the way. Why? [00:45:06]

And the first blood in the Bible is recorded as God finds Adam and Eve in this very scenario and he lovingly confronts them and he takes away their fig leaves. And in Genesis 3 21, we see the first inference of blood in the scripture. Let's read it together. Genesis 3 21 the Bible says this. And the Lord God, Yahweh God, made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and he clothed them. Garments of skins so that they do not have to hide anymore, try to minimize their sin, try to project something different, but rather they can be covered and live free. [00:49:06]

This first blood in the scripture, way better than a Rambo movie back in the 1980s. This first blood in the scripture points to God's intentionality to sacrifice something innocent so that something guilty might be covered. This is the gospel right here in Genesis 3 that something innocent died so that something guilty might be covered. Here's a gospel principle. You'll see this wherever you find blood in the scripture. [00:50:28]

Because of sin, something has to die so that something else can live. This afternoon, wherever you go to eat lunch, if you find yourself eating some protein, this is the way I talk to my children about eating meat. God is hardwired in our diets that something gives its life so that something else might receive sustenance and live. So enjoy that burger today and think of God. [00:50:52]

The gospel principle is this. Because of sin, something had to lay its life down and died so that something else could live. And so, the question that we've got to begin to ask ourselves is, have we been covered by the blood of God? Have we received God's kindness to fashion for us new identity? Or are we all of us still projecting and living on the hamster wheel of human existence where we constantly find and fashion new masks from fig leaves? [00:51:29]

He didn't just send Jesus so that we might be forgiven and then go on living in our hamster wheels of fig leaf preparing, covering, and minimizing and acting like we're not broken. He covers us so that we might be back in, redeemed in, brought into an everyday relationship with him. Relationship is the point. This is beautiful. And I want you to get this. [00:55:43]

You were meant to walk in an everyday relationship with God. You were meant to enjoy forgiveness and anxiety being laid down. You were meant to enjoy the goodness of God. He wants you to begin to enjoy an everyday conversation with him in prayer to walk in his spirit with power to love your neighbor in the midst of whatever our cultural calamity is at the moment. He wants you to begin to enjoy the forgiveness and the lack of shame and the no condemnation and that you and I are going to live forever with him. [00:57:05]

The good news of eternity is that he has loved you and I so beautifully. And we get to enjoy it. And so the reason that we are here is to share that good news, to declare and proclaim it through the visible love of our loving of neighbor, through the visible love of showing it with our partnerships and kingdom mentality around the community. You have some things on offer that maybe perhaps you're not even walking into. [01:00:12]

When Jesus was telling them that the enemy came to kill, steal, and destroy, but I came that you might have life and have it to the full, he's talking about what his blood has purchased for you and I. an everyday relationship where we begin to walk in freedom, to walk in peace. Like some of you, you you're here today and you've been so tied up with anxiety that you are just maybe having a hard time even sleeping. Do you understand the blood of Christ has purchased your shalom rest? [01:00:49]

Some of you, you've got so much unforgiveness inside of you because of what they did. And it was wrong, by the way, and you can't let go of it. And today is the day where you're going to get to like lay it down because it's under the blood. He's forgiven you and you're going to be able to forgive them. Come lay it down. Some of you, you just are, you're in the activity mode of being a good Christian, a good moral person, and you need to know you do not have to be a Pharisee and keep playing these religious games and going on this hamster wheel of religiosity. Come lay it down. Walk in your true identity. [01:01:22]

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The Blood: From Fig Leaves to Forgiveness and Relationship

Devotional

Day 1: Where There Is Blood, There Is Purpose

Day 2: God Covers Our Shame with Sacrifice

Day 3: Without the Shedding of Blood, There Is No Forgiveness

Day 4: Relationship, Not Just Forgiveness, Is the Point

Day 5: Lay Down Your Burdens and Walk in What the Blood Has Purchased

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Blood: From Fig Leaves to Forgiveness and Relationship

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