Charles Spurgeon · New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 5, Sermon No. 228 · 1859

The Blood: sermon notes

When I see the blood, I will pass over you.
Exodus 12:13

Summary

We are safe from judgment only through the blood of Jesus Christ, trusted alone as the complete, accepted sacrifice for sin.

Sermon outline

Likely Title: The Blood

Likely Text/Passage: Exodus 12:13

Main Theme: God’s people are safe from judgment solely through the blood of Jesus Christ, received by faith and trusted apart from all human merit.

Introduction

The Israelites were protected from Egypt’s judgment when God saw the blood of the Passover lamb on their doors.
The preacher returns to the “old story” of Christ’s dying love because the gospel is always relevant and sufficient.

Main Points

The Blood Itself
Christ is God’s divinely appointed, spotless, and divine sacrifice.
His death was once for all, fully sufficient, and accepted by God, as confirmed by His resurrection.
The Efficacy of the Blood
The blood of Christ alone can save; works, prayers, sacraments, repentance, feelings, faith, and experiences cannot be added as the basis of salvation.
It is all-sufficient, surely effective, and completely saves everyone who trusts in Christ.
The One Condition: God Sees the Blood
Salvation rests not on the strength of a person’s faith or ability to see clearly, but on God’s seeing and accepting Christ’s blood.
The doubting sinner is urged to plead Christ’s blood and trust in Jesus alone.
The Practical Lesson
Christians must continually fix their hope on Christ’s blood rather than their spiritual condition, emotions, graces, or the Spirit’s work in them.
Sinners must cease trusting in their own doings and rely entirely on Christ.

Application

Christians are called to cling to the cross in both joyful and discouraging spiritual seasons.
Sinners are urged to trust Jesus Christ now, without waiting for stronger feelings, deeper repentance, greater faith, or improved conduct.
The suggested prayer is to ask God for mercy solely for the sake of Christ’s blood.

Conclusion

Nothing but Christ’s blood can give peace to the guilty conscience or wash away sin.
The final appeal is: “Trust in Jesus only.”

Key quotes

Each quote below is copied from the printed sermon and checked word for word against it.

When I see the blood, I will pass over you

God's people are only safe through the blood

the blood, the blood alone, has power to redeem

Jesus only, Jesus only, Jesus only, this is the rock of our salvation

It is not your believing, it is Christ's dying

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin

Christ saves completely; every sin is washed, every blessing ensured, perfection is provided, and glory everlasting is the sure result

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling

Scripture references

Exodus 12:13
The preacher’s theme is God’s promise to pass over those marked by the blood.
"All the saints are in his hand"
He uses this statement to show that God’s people are kept safe in God’s hand.
"Thou hast given commandment to save me"
He cites David’s words to affirm that God commands the salvation and protection of his people.
"caught up together with the Lord in the air, and so shall they be ever with the Lord"
He uses this promise to show that believers will be safe with the Lord even if earthly safety disappears.
"I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast."
He quotes God’s declaration of judgment against Egypt on the night of the Passover.
"cut Rahab"
He invokes this image of God’s judgment to emphasize the terror of divine vengeance.
Romans, chapter 8
He refers to the teaching that all things work together for good for those who love God, grounding that good in Christ’s redeeming blood.
"which taketh away the sins of the world"
He identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God whose blood removes the world’s sins.
"the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world"
He teaches that Christ was appointed by God from eternity to be the Redeemer.
"Lo I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will O God."
He uses Christ’s words to show that Jesus willingly came according to God’s saving purpose.
"he was wounded for our transgressions"
He presents Christ as the spotless substitute who bears the guilt of sinners.
"tempted in all points like as we are"
He emphasizes that Christ was sinless despite experiencing temptation.
"In him was no sin"
He supports the claim that Christ was perfectly innocent and qualified to save.
"he died the just for the unjust, to bring us to God."
He explains that Christ’s innocent death reconciles unjust sinners to God.
"very God of very God"
He identifies Christ’s full deity as the reason his blood has infinite saving value.
"able to save to the uttermost, them that come unto God by him."
He declares that Christ can completely save all who come to God through him.
"It is finished."
He shows that Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice fully completed the work of atonement.
"perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
He teaches that Christ’s single sacrifice permanently perfects those who are set apart to God.
"other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, Jesus Christ"
He insists that Jesus Christ alone is the foundation of salvation.
"there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved."
He teaches that no person or means other than Christ’s name can save.
"though I should give rivers of oil, and ten thousand of the fat of fed beasts; yea, though I should give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul"
He shows that religious offerings and human sacrifice cannot remove sin.
"as filthy rags"
He rejects human righteousness as worthless compared with Christ’s righteousness.
"Could thy tears for ever flow, Could thy zeal no respite know; All for sin could not atone, Christ must save and Christ alone."
He teaches that repentance, tears, zeal, and religious effort cannot atone for sin; Christ alone saves.
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you."
He explains that salvation rests on God seeing Christ’s blood, not on the sinner’s feelings, faith-strength, or spiritual experience.
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin."
He declares that Christ’s blood is sufficient to cleanse every kind and degree of sin.
"whereby we must be saved"
He emphasizes that salvation necessarily comes through Christ’s blood.
"Whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life."
He presents belief in Christ as the assurance of salvation.
"I give unto my sheep eternal life"
He uses Jesus’ promise to assure believers of eternal life.
"they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."
He teaches that Christ gives his sheep secure and complete preservation.
"There is therefore now no damnation to them that believe in Christ Jesus."
He assures believers that those in Christ face no condemnation.
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us"
He applies the promise of cleansing to sinners who recognize their need of a Saviour.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
He calls sinners to trust in Jesus as the way of salvation.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned."
He contrasts salvation through belief with condemnation through unbelief.

Small-group discussion questions

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

When you hear the word “safe,” what kind of situation, person, or place comes to mind?
What is something people commonly rely on for security or peace when life feels threatening or uncertain?

Diving In (20 minutes)

The sermon repeatedly emphasized “the blood, and the blood alone.” How would you summarize the pastor’s main point in your own words?
In Exodus 12:13, God says, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” What did the pastor say this teaches about why the Israelites were spared, and how did he connect it to Christ?
The pastor warned against trusting in good works, religious practices, repentance, feelings, experiences, or even the strength of our faith as the basis of salvation. What might it look like Tuesday morning to rely on Christ rather than on your performance or emotional state?

Going Deeper (15 minutes)

The sermon says that faith must focus on Christ rather than on faith itself, and that “it is not your hold of Christ that saves you; it is his hold of you.” What questions or tensions does this raise for you about faith, assurance, and personal responsibility?
Where are you most tempted to add something to Christ’s work, your behavior, spiritual experiences, repentance, feelings, or something else, and what makes that difficult to release?

Prayer Prompt

Pray for the grace to trust wholly in Christ’s finished work, especially where fear, guilt, or self-reliance compete for your confidence.

Takeaways

Big idea

We are safe from judgment only through the blood of Jesus Christ, trusted alone as the complete, accepted sacrifice for sin.

Live it out

Pray daily, “Lord, have mercy upon me for the blood’s sake,” especially when doubts and fears arise.
Examine what you trust for salvation, rejecting reliance on works, feelings, experiences, ordinances, or faith itself.
Fix your attention on Christ crucified, remembering, “Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling.”
Invite a trembling sinner to believe in Jesus Christ alone, whose blood cleanses from all sin.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, we come with nothing in our hands, clinging simply to your cross. Thank you that your precious blood was once shed, fully accepted, and sufficient to cleanse us from all sin. Keep us from trusting our works, feelings, experiences, or faith, and turn our eyes again to you. When judgment comes, let us be found in you, covered by your righteousness. Teach us to rest in your finished work and proclaim your dying love. Amen.

Read the full sermon

Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Blood,” New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 5, Sermon No. 228. The sermon is in the public domain; the text used here is the CC0 Markdown edition of Spurgeon's sermons.

Full text in the CC0 edition

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