A RIVER OF BLOOD

#1 – History Steeped In Blood

The Centrality Of Blood

Blood is central to everything we are as Christians

Blood is an indispensible element in our covenant with God

Christianity is a blood-bought religion Our God demands blood

Blood From Almost The Beginning

• Genesis 4:4 --Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering…

• First recorded blood sacrifice

Why Did Abel Offer A Blood Sacrifice?

• Hebrews 11:4 --By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

To The Flood

Because of wickedness God destroys all living things save those on the ark.

New beginning – but sin not removed from the earth.

Saved by water – but not impervious to sin.

First Act Of Worship After Flood

• Genesis 8:20-21 --Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean birdand offered burnt offerings on the altar. 

The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth….”

Blood Sacrifice From Abraham

Genesis 22:2 – “He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

How Far Would Abraham Go?

Vs. 8, 13 – “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” – “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns….”

He offered His Only Begotten

Hebrews 11:17-19 – “By faith Abraham…offered up his only begotten son….He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which also he received him back as a type.”

What Was The Message?

Only through death can a life be consecrated to God.

God provided a substitute.

The First Blood Covenant

400 years of bondage

Egypt Isaac has become

a great nation of people

They are enslaved They cry out to

God

Deliverance Via Blood Sacrifice Exodus 12:7, 12-13 –

“Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel….For I will go through the land of Egypt…and I will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt….The blood shall be a sign for you…when I see the blood I will pass over you.”

50 Days Later…Sinai• A covenant with God requires blood• Exodus 24:4-8 – “Moses wrote down all the

words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain….and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls….Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar….So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant….’”

Blood Was Central

Blood sacrifice marked…

Births Consecration Festivals Daily atonement Sabbath

Continued for 1,500 years!