Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood

Devotional

Day 1: The Mercy Seat as Our Meeting Place

The Mercy Seat, where the blood of Christ is sprinkled, is the only place where sinners can find mercy and forgiveness. It is a humbling experience to lay down our sins, but it is also an invitation to come as we are, with nothing but sin, and find acceptance in Christ. The Old Testament imagery of the Mercy Seat as the lid of the Ark in the Holy of Holies, where the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement, points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As sinners, we must come to the Mercy Seat with nothing but our sins, laying them down upon the blood of Christ. It is a humbling experience, acknowledging our utter guilt and vileness, yet it is also inviting, for it is with sin that we come, and as sinners, the Lord Jesus meets us there. [01:34]

Leviticus 16:14-15 (ESV): "And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat."

Reflection: What sins are you holding onto that you need to lay down at the Mercy Seat today? How can you approach Christ with humility and acceptance?

Day 2: Salvation Without Merit

Salvation is offered freely, without the need for personal merit or good works. The blood of Christ is the only ground of acceptance before God, and it offers immediate forgiveness to those who believe and rest upon it. The gospel call is clear: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." There is no need to wait until we have mended our lives or prayed longer. Salvation is offered without money and without price. The blood of Christ is the only meeting place between an unholy sinner and a holy God. It proclaims that the wages of sin have been paid, and now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life. [06:19]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what ways have you been trying to earn God's favor through your own efforts? How can you rest in the truth that salvation is a free gift?

Day 3: The Gospel Call to All

The gospel call is for all who are willing to come to the Mercy Seat. There is no need to wait until we have improved ourselves; salvation is available now, without money and without price. The invitation is open to everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances. The greatness of our sins need not hinder our acceptance if we are willing to turn from sin to God. The blood of Christ offers immediate forgiveness, and it is the only ground of acceptance before God. [07:32]

Isaiah 55:1 (ESV): "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs to hear the gospel call? How can you share the message of salvation with them today?

Day 4: Assurance in Christ's Fullness

Believers are encouraged to live with full assurance of their acceptance in Christ. Doubts and fears regarding the fullness of Christ are unnecessary, as the blood of Christ is sufficient for immediate and present pardon. The Holy Spirit guides us to fix our eyes on the blood alone, not on our own efforts or qualities. This is the true way of holiness, where we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. [13:19]

Hebrews 10:22 (ESV): "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Reflection: What doubts or fears do you have about your acceptance in Christ? How can you remind yourself of the sufficiency of His blood today?

Day 5: The True Way of Holiness

The Holy Spirit guides us to fix our eyes on the blood of Christ alone, not on our own efforts or qualities. This is the true way of holiness, where we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. The blood of Christ is sufficient for immediate and present pardon. It is the plea that God himself has furnished to the perishing sinner. The Holy Spirit guides us to fix our eyes on the blood alone, not on our own efforts or qualities. [17:43]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: In what ways can you present your body as a living sacrifice to God today? How can you focus on the blood of Christ rather than your own efforts in your pursuit of holiness?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves burdened by the weight of sin, feeling the wrath of God upon our souls. The question that arises in such moments is, "What must I do to be saved?" The answer lies in the profound truth of the Mercy Seat, where the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. In the Old Testament, the Mercy Seat was the lid of the Ark in the Holy of Holies, where the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. This act symbolized the atonement for the sins of the people, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

As sinners, we must come to the Mercy Seat with nothing but our sins, laying them down upon the blood of Christ. It is a humbling experience, acknowledging our utter guilt and vileness, yet it is also inviting, for it is with sin that we come, and as sinners, the Lord Jesus meets us there. The greatness of our sins need not hinder our acceptance if we are willing to turn from sin to God. The blood of Christ offers immediate forgiveness, and it is the only ground of acceptance before God.

The gospel call is clear: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." There is no need to wait until we have mended our lives or prayed longer. Salvation is offered without money and without price. The blood of Christ is the only meeting place between an unholy sinner and a holy God. It proclaims that the wages of sin have been paid, and now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life.

Believers are encouraged to live with full assurance of their acceptance, not doubting the fullness of Christ. The blood of Christ is sufficient for immediate and present pardon. It is the plea that God himself has furnished to the perishing sinner. The Holy Spirit guides us to fix our eyes on the blood alone, not on our own efforts or qualities. This is the true way of holiness, where we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.

Key Takeaways

1. The Mercy Seat, where the blood of Christ is sprinkled, is the only place where sinners can find mercy and forgiveness. It is a humbling experience to lay down our sins, but it is also an invitation to come as we are, with nothing but sin, and find acceptance in Christ. [01:34]
2. Salvation is offered freely, without the need for personal merit or good works. The blood of Christ is the only ground of acceptance before God, and it offers immediate forgiveness to those who believe and rest upon it. [06:19]
3. The gospel call is for all who are willing to come to the Mercy Seat. There is no need to wait until we have improved ourselves; salvation is available now, without money and without price. [07:32]
4. Believers are encouraged to live with full assurance of their acceptance in Christ. Doubts and fears regarding the fullness of Christ are unnecessary, as the blood of Christ is sufficient for immediate and present pardon. [13:19]
5. The Holy Spirit guides us to fix our eyes on the blood of Christ alone, not on our own efforts or qualities. This is the true way of holiness, where we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. [17:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - The Need for Salvation
[00:38] - God's Grace and the Mercy Seat
[01:06] - The Blood of Atonement
[01:34] - Coming to the Mercy Seat
[02:18] - Confession and Laying Down Sin
[03:16] - The Sin of Holy Things
[04:12] - The Invitation to Sinners
[05:09] - Misconceptions About Salvation
[06:19] - Salvation Without Price
[07:32] - The Gospel Call
[08:42] - Assurance in the Blood of Christ
[10:25] - The Law and the Gospel
[12:24] - The Holy Spirit's Guidance
[13:19] - Full Assurance in Christ
[15:03] - The True Way of Holiness
[17:43] - Living as a Living Sacrifice
[19:09] - The Precious Blood of Christ
[20:20] - The Urgency of Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Leviticus 17:11 - "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement."
Exodus 25:22 - "There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel."
Romans 3:25 - "Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed."

Observation Questions:

What is the significance of the Mercy Seat in the Old Testament, and how does it relate to the blood of Jesus Christ? [01:06]
According to the sermon, what is the only ground of acceptance before God for sinners? [06:19]
How does the sermon describe the act of coming to the Mercy Seat with our sins? [01:50]
What does the sermon say about the necessity of personal merit or good works for salvation? [06:19]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of the Mercy Seat in the Old Testament foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ? [01:06]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the blood of Christ offers immediate forgiveness to believers? [06:19]
What does the sermon imply about the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers to focus on the blood of Christ? [13:19]
How does the sermon address the common misconception that one must improve themselves before coming to God for salvation? [05:50]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by sin. How did you seek forgiveness, and how does the concept of the Mercy Seat change your perspective on seeking God's mercy? [01:50]
The sermon emphasizes that salvation is offered without money and without price. How does this challenge your understanding of grace and acceptance? [06:19]
Consider the statement, "The blood of Christ is the only meeting place between an unholy sinner and a holy God." How does this influence your approach to prayer and confession? [10:25]
The sermon encourages believers to live with full assurance of their acceptance in Christ. What doubts or fears do you need to lay down to embrace this assurance fully? [13:19]
How can you practically fix your eyes on the blood of Christ alone, as guided by the Holy Spirit, in your daily life? [13:19]
The sermon mentions presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice. What specific actions can you take this week to live as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God? [17:43]
Reflect on the urgency of salvation as discussed in the sermon. How can you share this urgency with someone in your life who may not know Christ? [20:20]

Sermon Clips

Reader, have you ever felt your need of Salvation? Have you ever saw it as one who must obtain it or perish? When a sinner is first brought to feel sin to be a burden, when he feels wrath abiding upon his soul and that his whole past life has been a life without God, the question arises, "What must I do to be saved?" [00:00:13]

The Mercy Seat was the lid of the Ark as broad and long as the Ark itself and made of the same precious material. The lid or Mercy Seat being sprinkled with blood seven times set forth to us the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanseth from all sin. Now it is where the blood is that mercy for sinners is to be found. [00:01:02]

You must come as a sinner; you must come with nothing but sin. On the Day of Atonement, the priest in Israel who came forward to the Mercy Seat laid down nothing but sin on that blood-sprinkled lid. He showed a sinner's way of coming to the Lord, and yet he brought nothing whatever but sin to be laid down there. [00:01:50]

The greatness of your sins need be no hindrance to your acceptance if only you are now willing with all your heart to turn from sin to God. Yes, it is true. It was for sinners the Mercy Seat was made; it was for sinners the blood was shed. "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." [00:04:44]

Dear reader, would this be a free salvation? You want to pay for salvation, but God offers you salvation without money and without price. "Oh, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." [00:06:12]

The gospel call, so far as any ground of acceptance is concerned, the Lord has no respect to the sinner's state at all as to whether it be better or whether it be worse. The only question is, "Art thou willing?" The invitation is, "Whosoever will." To the sinner who comes in faith to the Mercy Seat is immediately received. [00:07:17]

The Holy Ghost, who testifies of Christ, guides none to peace and salvation but by fixing their eye on the blood alone. He never turns a sinner's eye on himself as a means of confidence. He never bids a sinner see his own character and so draw encouragement. No, the Lord's way ever has been to glorify Christ in order to give confidence to a sinner. [00:12:46]

Believer, why do you live with anything less than full assurance of your acceptance? Why cast suspicion on the fullness of Christ? Why raise doubts concerning the truth of God's testimony? Why act as if you feared that Christ's death and resurrection were not the sinner's all-sufficient warrant? [00:13:25]

The same Apostle who proclaims salvation to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly beseeches us by those very mercies of God to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. The same sprinkled blood which speaks peace to the sinner proclaims to that sinner continually, "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price." [00:17:43]

The crucified and risen Jesus and nothing else brings us nigh to God. The crucified and risen Jesus, apart from all besides, reconciles us to God. The crucified and risen Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. He has borne an awful testimony that the wages of sin is death and has thus opened the way of salvation for the very chief of sinners. [00:18:25]

The blood was always upon the Mercy Seat. It was there night and day, summer and winter, year after year. So Jesus is. He is never unable or unwilling to receive one coming sinner. Do you ask who are they who would be welcome? He answers, "Him that cometh." Every sinner of every kind and character, great and small, young and old, are welcome. [00:20:47]

Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [00:22:00]

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Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood

Devotional

Day 1: The Mercy Seat as Our Meeting Place

Day 2: Salvation Without Merit

Day 3: The Gospel Call to All

Day 4: Assurance in Christ's Fullness

Day 5: The True Way of Holiness

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood

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