How can we avoid treating the "blood of the covenant" as unholy? Weight of the Warning Hebrews 10:29 says, “How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Scripture treats the blood of Jesus with the highest honor; to regard it lightly is a grave offense. Remember, this warning is aimed at people who once professed faith yet grew cold, careless, or defiant. Remember What the Blood Accomplishes • Exodus 24:8 – Moses sprinkled the people with sacrificial blood and declared, “This is the blood of the covenant.” That moment foreshadowed Christ. • Hebrews 9:14 – The blood of Christ “purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” • Ephesians 1:7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” • 1 Peter 1:18-19 – We were ransomed “not with perishable things… but with the precious blood of Christ.” Christ’s blood is the hinge of salvation history: it purchases, cleanses, sanctifies, and reconciles. Grasping that truth fuels reverence. Cultivate Daily Gratitude • Begin your day consciously thanking God for the sacrifice of His Son. • Speak about the cross often—in conversation, in worship, in instruction to children. • Sing hymns or songs that exalt the blood (“Nothing but the Blood,” “There Is a Fountain”). Thanksgiving guards the heart from apathy. Guard Against Presumption • Presumption says, “God will forgive—so sin isn’t a big deal.” • Romans 6:1-2 counters that attitude: “Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? By no means!” • Regular self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5) keeps conscience tender, preventing us from “trampling” grace. Worship with Reverence • Hebrews 12:28 encourages serving God “with reverence and awe.” • Approach corporate worship ready—arrive on time, meditate on Scripture beforehand, and participate wholeheartedly. • Treat symbols (the cross, pulpit, communion table) with respect, not superstition, reminding yourself they point to Christ’s finished work. Walk in Obedience • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Obedience doesn’t earn salvation; it honors the One who bled for us. • Simple practices: integrity in speech, purity online, generosity with money, kindness under pressure—all testify that the blood has sanctified us. Partake of Communion Worthily • 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 warns against eating and drinking “in an unworthy manner.” • Prepare: confess sin, reconcile with others, focus on Christ’s sacrifice, and receive with faith. • Communion becomes a fresh pledge: “Your blood bought me; I am Yours.” Stay Close to the Spirit of Grace • Hebrews 10:29 joins dishonoring the blood with “insulting the Spirit of grace.” • Keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) through Scripture reading, prayer, and prompt responsiveness to His conviction. • Quenching or grieving the Spirit leads inevitably to treating the cross lightly. Encourage One Another • Hebrews 10:24-25 calls believers to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another.” • Share testimonies of answered prayer and transformation—reminders that the blood is powerful today. • Gentle accountability helps loved ones avoid drifting into contempt. Live in Expectation of His Return • Revelation 1:5-7 pictures Jesus returning, the One “who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood.” • Anticipating His appearing keeps hearts alert and worshipful. • A forward-looking faith says, “He bought me, He keeps me, He will come for me”—motivating holiness now. Summing Up Treating the blood of the covenant as holy flows from knowing what it cost, thanking God continually, resisting presumption, worshiping with awe, obeying His commands, receiving communion thoughtfully, following the Spirit’s promptings, building up fellow believers, and living ready for Christ’s return. Honor the blood, and you honor the Savior who shed it for you. |
    |