The Believer's God-Appointed Pit Stop

Spent considerable time thinking about the focus of this evening's message, knowing that we were installing deacons and wondering if I should bring a message that drew attention to ecclesiology that is doctrine of the church in its organization and its structure and its officers, and at the same time knowing we were going to have the Lord's table service. So do I bring focus upon issues of so teary elegy Christology rather than focus upon the office of the church and institution of the church. I chose to give attention to the head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us on Calvary. When I give you a little title of the meat. Let me give you the title of my message tonight and then give you some of the benefit of my thinking. It's a bit odd. I think terms of the title but my title tonight is the believers. God appointed pitstop card and I spent several days at the end of last week visiting my oldest brother lives in Ormond Beach Daytona Beach is just a few miles away.

And for those of you that may not be aware and really maybe not. Don't even care next Sunday will be the running of the Daytona 500. It is one of the more prestigious races in the NASCAR circuit.

I am not a big NASCAR fan but I do know a little bit about the sport and I was humbled some years ago when I came to the Wednesday night service prepared to leave the service and I detected a very gloomy heavy spirit in the church in that particular this was on Wednesday on that particular Sunday prior Dale Earnhardt lost his life in the last lap 500 and I said to this particular person.

I said come on now, I know Dale Earnhardt died, but Jesus didn't.

So let's get out. I touch the I touched a nerve, a nerve, I was like okay I'll have you no doubt our new house.

Okay, okay, so NASCAR we usually think of it as an individual sport.

We usually think about the man in the car doing the driving, but NASCAR is a team sport. There are owners, there are drivers there are people who work in the pit before any race begins. The various race teams develop a pit strategy. What I mean by pit strategy will depending on the length of the race.

They began to strategize and think about how many pitstop they will make and when and how much of a gambler going to take on the tires and on gasoline getting them to the finish line without an additional pitstop and it's amazing how meticulous they have gotten in the calculation of that and how sometimes a gamble pays off.

And sometimes that gamble doesn't pay off because I recall a few races where the lead car ran out of gas on the last lap now on one particular occasion, the lead car ran out of gas in the fourth turn and finished and still won the race.

My point is, although most pitstops are only 10 to 15 seconds long, were expert crews change tires, tweak the engine adjust the suspension and refuel the racecar executing those pitstops efficiently often is the two winning or losing. You cannot run a successful race without strategically taking it stops you say will where you going with this, because that's what's true the Christian life. Listen to the writer of Hebrews in this metaphor of the Christian life being a race. Therefore, we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking under Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Verse 34 consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself. Why bless you become weary and discouraged in your souls. The New Testament writers and the writer here. Hebrews keenly right to encourage us to fuel our spiritual race. Last we grow weary and discouraged, lest we lose heart. And if I can say it like this unless we lest we run out of gas. Eugene Peterson in his New Testament paraphrase called the message renders Romans chapter 12 verse 11. This way, quote don't burn out.

Keep your selves fueled and aflame the Lord's table is a means of grace for the people of God.

It is a time where we conspicuously focus our attention on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. My challenge to you tonight as we consider precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we would as the people of God feed on Christ by faith be nurtured in our faith as we think upon him and what he's done for it for us that we would be strengthened in the inner man that we would have ourselves fuel to live this life that he's called us to live. So tonight let us consider from first Peter chapter 14 aspects of the blood of Christ. One of the great Puritans, Thomas Watson had this to say. He believed that redemption was God's greatest work. Great was the work of creation, but greater.

He says the work of redemption. It costs more to redeem us than it did to make us in the making. There was, but the speaking of a word in the latter. The shedding of blood. The giving of blood was consider number one. The uniqueness of Christ's blood.

The word precious needs to be rescued from our contemporary understanding. When we say something is precious. We are speaking words of admiration of affirmation of how much we value it, but the Greek word that's employed here in verse 19.

Speaking of.

We were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold lot with verse 19 the precious blood of Christ. The Greek word transit translated precious means on equal in value, costly or irreplaceable. So as we work through this message tonight. I don't want you to them to bring to bear in your mind. Those familiar thoughts we have toward those things that are precious, but this understanding precious in the sense that it's unequal that it's costly that it's here replaceable.

That's what I want us to think about so number one blood of Jesus Christ is precious in its uniqueness in its uniqueness. We sing what can wash away my sin. Nothing but the blood of Jesus is unique in that way, if you replaceable in that way the uniqueness of the blood of Christ in here. The contrast is between those things that are corruptible and perishable.

Notice how Peter speaks of it or something. The word and no not just know but continued to be reminded of, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold. We don't tend to think of silver and gold as corruptible things, but in terms of contrast. It is a corruptible thing and it ironic that people will do most anything for the accumulation of silver and gold in this life. It is esteemed it is sought after it is chased after men will give their life for it, and yet the Bible says that the streets in heaven are paid will be walking on silver and gold. It will be so common that it's like asphalt we can think of it that way.

We were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. This blood is precious because of who said it. The blood of Christ is precious because Christ is precious and Peter goes on to say that notice in chapter 2.

He's talking about Christ. He says in verse six of chapter 2 therefore it it it also contained it's also contained in the Scriptures, behold, I lay in Zion, a chief cornerstone Eagle at precious.

What's he referring to or more precisely, who is he referring to who is the chief cornerstone electing precious. He says, and he who believes on him by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe he is precious, but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. So the blood of Christ is precious because of its uniqueness offered as a sacrifice for sin by the only perfect person who ever lived. Notice how the writer of Hebrews gets at this idea. Hebrews chapter 7 he says this verse 25 therefore he he speaking of Christ is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him sense he always lives to make intercession for them. Verse 26 for such a high priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and is become higher than the heavens does not need daily, as those high priest offer us up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the people's for this he did once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness but the word of the oath, which came after the law appoints the son who has been perfected forever. There's a contrast they're being drawn between the Lord Jesus Christ and his priest priesthood and his priestly work with the old Levitical priests is priesthood was a unique priesthood. It was you replaceable it was unqualified, valuable, in a way that the old covenant priest and priesthood never could be so the blood of Jesus is number one unique in its preciousness but not only unique in its preciousness, but the blood of Christ is precious because of its value because of its value your member Jesus asked two questions recorded in Matthew chapter 16 in verse 26 to cause us to ponder the value of the soul.

What will it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what will a man give in exchange for his soul. What's the point that Jesus is making Jesus is making the point that the worth of the whole world cannot compare to the value of a single soul were thinking about the preciousness of Christ and at this point about its value.

At no time in human history has such a premium been put on the value of the soul, then when Jesus paid for the souls of all the elect of God with the purchase of his own precious blood not only is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ precious in its value that is valuable enough to redeem to purchase sinners unto himself, but also precious in the sense of its value to satisfy the justice of a holy God.

Both had to take place. That's why the blood of goats and beasts in the Old Testament system was inadequate. They covered for sin, but they couldn't put away sin and that's why they had to be repeated continually. There was a perpetual priesthood because they were that system was only temporary was only preparatory for Christ in his coming to offer himself on Calvary. So were thinking again about the preciousness of Christ in his blood, his blood is precious in its uniqueness, it's precious in its value with number three. It is precious in its superiority precious in its superiority and again I've already spoke a little bit about this, but superior to the Old Testament priesthood and the Old Testament sacrifices. The contrast here being drawn between the Old Testament Passover lamb. Notice again. How Peter writes about this he says, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot and that harkens back to the old testament system, a lamb. The instructions were for the head of a household to go and select a lamb. It had to be a lamb without blemish, without defecting to bring that lamb into the home for period of time, and I think 14 days they would observe this lamb to see if there was any defect with this lamb and on the 14th day they were to slaughter the land take the blood from the land and coat the door posts and the doorframe outside the home that was the instructions and God said where the blood was applied he would Passover it would cover it would protect that with the instructions and now the New Testament is picking up on that Peter is picking up on that Christ is the Passover lamb he is who was being prefigured. John pointed to Jesus and said, behold hello, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world so Christ's blood is precious and its superiority Paul comments that a redemption has been accomplished through Christ Jesus.

Because God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement.

Romans chapter 3 in verse 25 again. I read from Hebrews a moment ago where the writers declaring the Christ did not enter the most holy place by means of the blood of goats and calves, but he entered once and for all with his own blood, having obtained eternal salvation Hebrews 912 and John the regulator says this about Christ in Revelation chapter 5 in verse nine.

You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

I don't have the time to get into it tonight but there are some very insightful things been spoken of here in verse 20 is a reference to time in this passage goes back to verse 13 where he begins and says therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and rest are hopefully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ at the revelation of Jesus Christ. That's a reference to the second coming.

But then he goes on and says in verse 20 he indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world when were we chosen one were winded. God said his affections upon the elect before the foundations of the world, but he speaking of Christ.

Here he indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

That manifestation is a reference to the incarnation, but he indeed was foreordained for those of you that love theological debates.

This raises the issue of super lapse Arianism and info lapse Arianism and I'm not going there tonight but I I am. My interest is been piqued as I think about this, and perhaps on Wednesday night will speak to it, but just to whet your appetite and to think about what is being said here about he was foreordained before the foundation of the world before any human being was created before Adam and Eve ever walked this earth. Christ was foreordained to be the Redeemer to come and shed his blood to give some thought to that point were thinking tonight about the preciousness of the blood of Christ is precious in its uniqueness. It is precious in its value. It is precious in its superiority, but number four we see the preciousness of the blood of Christ in its intent in its intent, the blood of Jesus Christ redeems it redeems people who struggle with sovereign grace. People who struggle with the doctrines of grace have a bit of a generic not a very deep understanding of what Jesus did on the cross away so we you begin to talk to somebody in the last console what Jesus accomplished what did he do well. He died for us. What is that mean you begin to get to the point of what does the Bible say about what Christ did well. He redeemed, he offered his life as a propitiation he atoned. Then you start getting down to specificity the blood of Jesus Christ redeems it doesn't just make redemption possible. You can't get around this. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says he speaking of Christ. He says not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered the most holy place once for all. Having obtained eternal redemption.

He obtained eternal redemption didn't just make it possible he obtained it. The question is obtained for who will Peter speak so that back first Peter chapter 1 where he says he was manifest in these last times for you is writing to the church he secured eternal redemption for his people for the elect of God so the blood of Jesus Christ redeems it doesn't just make redemption possible. It saves it doesn't just make salvation possible. And I'm glad tonight that the work of Jesus Christ is all that's necessary for you and I to be reconciled to God is not the Jesus did, 95% of the work in you and I have to add 5% because you and I don't have anything we can add is that will doesn't… Don't I get a little credit is under a little merit, no there's not zero.

Salvation is all of God from A-to-Z. He's the alpha he's the Omega is the beginning and the end and everything in between. God is designed it so so that no man would boast in his present they just have to you have to holistic lady look at the five points that make up the doctrines of grace. When you start with total depravity and you understand what total depravity means that a man is dead in his trespasses and sins, then the question becomes how does a dead man whose dead spiritually to God bring any merit offer anything that's acceptable to God really can't and if he is ever going to be saved.

God's gonna have to do the saving of him through the finished work of Jesus Christ. That's why the Bible talks about obtaining he obtained eternal redemption for his people. So that's the intent to tip to to diminish in the take away from the work of Christ by saying what yes he went to the cross and he died but he just made salvation possible for those who will have enough sense to call on him and believe on him. It's been Christ of his glory so church when we come together around the table when we feed on Christ work feeding on and being nurtured by a Christ is obtained eternal redemption for us were resting in him and his perfections.

There is no credit for us to take the were talking about the preciousness of the blood of Christ in its intent, he shed it for an exclusive group for believers. For those who will believe in God through him, wonderful intent, fabulous intent, God honoring Christ glorifying intent man tumbling and abasing intent. And that's the intent of the salvation that God has wrought in Christ, think with me about these Old Testament priests for all their dedicated sacrificial work. The Old Testament Levitical priest were part of the system that was earthbound. It was temporary and it was ultimately ineffective and Jesus came as the better priest.

He was having sent his priestly work was effective. He offered himself once and for all. And when the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. God was making a statement that the work of Christ made the work of the Old Testament system obsolete, unnecessary because Christ is come in Christ is offered himself once for all, never to be repeated. Christ was not only the perfect substitute for all the Old Testament priests.

He was this girl finds himself as well. So as the perfect priest. He offered to God the perfect acceptable sacrifice of himself forever ending any further need for any sacrifice for sin.

So we consider tonight the preciousness of the blood of Christ precious in its uniqueness precious in its value precious in its superiority and precious in its intent church that's preparation to come and fellowship and commune with Christ to rejoice afresh in the salvation we have in him for what he's done for us and we could've never done for ourselves. He's worthy let us pray father how we thank you tonight for your word for how it draws attention to the person and work of Jesus Christ and how that work was a perfect work and it was an acceptable work and it was a satisfactory work and that you are pleased with him.

And if you're pleased with him and what he did all how the church ought to be. Please and satisfied in him, Lord, we take no credit for anything we realize that our acceptance before you is based solely upon the blood and righteousness of your dear son, thank you for that tonight.

May your people rejoice afresh in him who loved us and gave himself's even our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen