From Nothing but the Blood Audio
. . . But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. —1 Samuel 30
Before we transition into answering the next question, I want to review the previous six lessons and share something personal. If any of these six are unfamiliar to you, click the link to go back and review.
In recreating the 1955 talk the Billy Graham gave that changed England, we’re looking at blood sacrifice throughout Scripture. We’re answering the questions:
If you’re God, why choose blood as the way to redeem humanity/overcome the relational non-negotiables/bring man back into relationship with you, and
How can I trust One Who would choose that way?
We’ve surveyed a number of stories of sacrifice within Scripture and we’ve seen that:
This journey is important because it shows the planning, perfection and intentionality of Jesus from the very beginning. It reminds us that we don’t have all the facts at hand and that there is a more perfect wisdom guiding mankind since the beginning. But lastly, it connects us to God’s love.
My confession is that most mornings, when I awake, I don’t feel God’s love wash over me. Some of you are likely better at realizing that than me, but I’m more apt to try and please God, take a new hill or earn it. That’s not the Gospel, but it is a constant struggle for me to feel God’s love.
I talk about this in Chapter 6-The Wait of the Gospel in A Rooster Once Crowed (also excerpted in a post called The Warning Against Desiring Spiritual Success), but how would you know that Bill Gates loved you? If he gave you a million dollars, would that prove it? What about $100M? Well, if you’re God, the Creator of the universe, Owner of all things, what could He possibly give me that I would know he loved me?
I’m telling you this to say that I didn’t put this lesson together to minister to you. I’m ministered to by this lesson. Something about the blood has reconnected me to the sacrifice that Jesus made for me and the love that God, Jesus and the Spirit have for me. This lesson, and it’s exploration with you, has brought me back into a better/closer/finer relationship with my Creator. Thank you. Thank You.
And yes, I do love you.
This is the eleventh part in a multi-part post expanding on an exceptional talk Billy Graham gave at the University of Cambridge in 1955 with influences from Tim Keller's sermon series Christ: Our Treasury (The Book of Hebrews). To hear an overview of this material, consider listening to the original Nothing but the Blood audio, linked here (it'll stream from a mobile device), read all the posts to date by clicking #nothingbuttheblood, or hear the most recent version of the Nothing but the Blood talk by streaming it on the player, below. If you'd like to get these posts sent to you via email (and you're not already), click here to register and make sure to tell us that you're a Back Porch Friend.
The next in this series, Part 12. Redemption Out of Pawn is available by clicking here.
Available as an eBook at:
Or we'll send you a free one by joining to get access, below. . .
Pray for this ministry, ask others to pray alongside you, read God’s Word directly and through the book, and curate the response.
Sign up for our emails, share our media with friends, post it on your networks, post a review on Amazon, Apple, B&N or Goodreads
Lead a small group on the book, arrange a visit at your church with the author, give the book to friends, post portions of it on your networks.
1266 W Paces Ferry Road
Suite 140
Atlanta, GA 30327-2306
Call: (940) 463-5173
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.